New Delhi: Delhi minister Atishi has made a plea to Haryana to release water into River Yamuna on humanitarian grounds as the national capital grapples with a severe water shortage.
This crisis is compounded by an ongoing heatwave, further exacerbating the residents' plight.
The Supreme Court recently intervened, directing the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi. The court also instructed Haryana to ensure the water reaches the capital, citing the drinking water shortage as an "existential problem" for Delhi.
While Himachal Pradesh has confirmed the release of the water, it must flow through Haryana to reach Delhi. The AAP government has accused the BJP-ruled Haryana of withholding Delhi's share of water, worsening the already critical situation.
Delhi is currently facing a severe water crisis, with a shortage of about 70 million gallons of water per day. This shortage is primarily due to the lack of raw water supply from the Munak Canal and Wazirabad Reservoir, which are critical sources for the city's water treatment plants. Contributing factors to this situation include the overuse of groundwater and the additional strain caused by ongoing heatwaves.