Haryana backtracks on water for Delhi (Hindu 27 April 2010)

No headway in making the neighbour part with 80 MGD of additional water
Delhi was banking on additional water to be released from Munak Canal
Haryana now denies having agreed to give any extra water to the Capital
NEW DELHI: After several rounds of meetings, some chaired by officials of the Union Government, Delhi has made no headway in getting Haryana to part with 80 million gallons a day (MGD) of additional water that it laid claim to.
This additional water to be released from the Munak Canal was Delhi's answer to solve its growing supply-demand gap to some extent.
On Monday a senior official of the Delhi Government said Haryana has agreed to release the additional water only for a limited period: “They have said that 80 MGD will be supplied only for the duration of the Commonwealth Games.”
According to the official, Haryana has denied having agreed to give any extra water to Delhi apart from what it already releases: “They now say it is a difference in perception. They have put forth that they did not agree to release the 80 MGD of water that will be saved after the commissioning of the Munak canal and it was not part of the agreement.”
Haryana's decision to withhold the supply of the additional water has thrown a spanner in the works. Delhi was banking on this water to meet its growing demand for water.
Of the 80 MGD, 20 MGD was meant for the Okhla and Bawana water treatment plants and 40 MGD for Dwarka.
After repeated requests to Haryana to relent from its stand failed, Delhi went knocking at the Centre's doors.
A meeting was chaired by the Union Cabinet Secretary, followed by a meeting of the Chief Secretaries of both States.
The canal has been a contentious issue between the two States for long.
After hiccups during its construction, the canal, which is now ready, has been at the centre of controversy over water release.
The Munak Canal was constructed by Haryana with money that Delhi released. Costing over Rs.315 crore, the 102-km canal was built between the Haryana border and Haiderpur in Delhi to cut down water losses due to seepage.