Delhi has sent yet another reminder to Haryana asking it to complete work on the long-pending Munak Canal. A simmering issue between the two States, the canal has been delayed for a long time for various reasons, mostly to do with money.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has shot off another letter to the Haryana Administration to resume work for completion of the canal.
“A few days ago, Delhi released Rs.50 crore for the project. Following this, the Chief Minister, who is also Chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board, has now pressed for the timely completion of the pending work,” said a Delhi Jal Board official.
To break the logjam over the Munak issue, a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had in July arbitrated a meeting and ordered Delhi to release an additional Rs.50 crore to Haryana for the construction of the canal, which is expected to mitigate the city's water problems.
“After the GoM's intervention, Haryana agreed to complete the pending work saying it would do so in the next two months. It also agreed to supply 610 cusecs of water through the canal, as was agreed to initially,” said the official.
Delhi had baulked at Haryana's demand for an additional Rs.150 crore, citing cost overruns.
“In keeping with the orders, Delhi has released the money and said that whatever else needs to be paid for will be done as well. The GoM had suggested that Haryana's claims for an additional Rs.150 crore for meeting new expenses will be reviewed by the Central Water Commission. Delhi has assured that whatever the Commission announces in is report will be complied with and if there is an order to pay more, it will do so,” the official explained.
Haryana had also opposed the construction of two water treatment plants, one each at Okhla and Dwarka, and that issue too has been referred by the GoM to the Upper Yamuna River Board to review and report on. Haryana had to construct the 102-km canal that Delhi is paying for. About 200 to 300 metres of the total canal length remains to be completed. The canal was supposed to be ready in 2009.
While Delhi has been banking on the canal to carry water without wastage, a Central Pollution Control Board study had indicated the canal could be a solution to the high pollution levels in Delhi's raw water supply. Delhi expects to save around 80 million gallons per day once the canal becomes operational.
• Work delayed for various reasons, mostly monetary
• Canal is expected to mitigate Delhi's water problems
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