In a significant development addressing Delhi’s acute water shortage, the Supreme Court has directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release surplus water on Friday to ensure uninterrupted supply to the national capital for drinking purposes.
The directive came from a bench headed by Justice P K Mishra.
Case Overview:
The court mandated that Himachal Pradesh release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it on Friday, facilitating its journey to Hathni Kund barrage and subsequently to Delhi through Wazirabad.
It further stipulated that whenever surplus water is released, Haryana should cooperate in facilitating its flow.
Notably, the bench acknowledged Himachal Pradesh’s lack of objection to releasing the surplus water.
However, it underscored the imperative for the Delhi government to implement measures recommended by the Upper Yamuna River Board to curtail water wastage.
The court, posting the matter for further hearing on June 10, ordered the submission of a status report and compliance affidavits in the interim.
This move follows the court’s earlier instruction for the river board to convene an urgent meeting on June 5 to address the capital’s water crisis, emphasizing the need to address the scarcity of water for Delhi’s residents effectively.
The directive from the apex court comes in response to a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, urging neighboring states to release additional water for a month to meet the city’s escalated water demands due to soaring summer temperatures.
The Upper Yamuna River Board, responsible for regulating the allocation of surface flow of the Yamuna among several states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi, is central to addressing the water distribution issues.
With this directive, the Supreme Court aims to mitigate the pressing water crisis in Delhi, ensuring that its residents have access to a vital resource during these challenging times.
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