Supreme Court Urges Immediate Action On Delhi’s Water Crisis

In response to the looming water crisis in the national capital, the Supreme Court has directed the Upper Yamuna River Board to convene an urgent meeting on 5 June 2024.

This decision comes amidst growing concerns over the scarcity of water in Delhi, exacerbated by the scorching summer temperatures.

Headed by Justice P K Mishra, the bench emphasized the need for prompt resolution of the water scarcity issues affecting the citizens of Delhi.

Additionally, the court has scheduled the hearing of a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking additional water supply from neighboring states for June 6th.

The bench, which also includes Justice K V Viswanathan, has instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to facilitate the river board’s meeting.

The Upper Yamuna River Board, responsible for regulating the allocation of surface flow of the Yamuna among states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi, holds a critical role in addressing the water crisis.

The Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi government, in its petition before the apex court, has urged for immediate action to address the extraordinary water demand triggered by soaring summer temperatures.

The plea calls for neighboring states to release extra water for a month to mitigate the crisis.

Atishi Requests Emergency Water Release From Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

Delhi Water Minister Atishi has personally reached out to the Chief Ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Nayab Singh Saini and Yogi Adityanath respectively, requesting additional water release to alleviate the water shortage in the national capital.

Expressing urgency, Atishi highlighted the heavy reliance of Delhi on the Yamuna River for meeting its daily water requirements.

Previously, Atishi had sought intervention from the Centre, highlighting the critical situation.

She emphasized that Haryana’s reluctance to release the required amount of water into the Yamuna River has led to a drastic dip in water levels at the Wazirabad Barrage, intensifying the crisis in Delhi.

The water shortage crisis in Delhi has been compounded by the soaring temperatures, with mercury levels touching nearly 50 degrees Celsius.

This has further strained the demand-supply chain of potable drinking water in the city.

As Delhi grapples with the twin challenges of rising temperatures and dwindling water resources, the Supreme Court’s directive to address the water crisis signals a crucial step towards mitigating the hardships faced by the citizens of the national capital.

The upcoming meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board and the court hearing stand as crucial opportunities to formulate immediate solutions to this pressing issue.

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