Central body to verify claims of Delhi, Haryana (The Hindu 16 June 2012)

Delhi has been accusing Haryana of curtailing its water supply, Haryana is adamant that Delhi is getting its full share, both have offered their records as proof to back their respective claims, but the Upper Yamuna River Board, which has been asked to verify these records, has turned to the Central Water Commission to investigate and come out with the truth.

Part of the Union Water Resources Ministry, UYRB's mandate is to regulate the water sharing agreement of allocated water between the riparian States of the Yamuna. Unable to break the deadlock between the two States, the UYRB has now decided to rope in the Central Water Commission.

“We were approached by the DJB that Haryana has curtailed its supply of water, we passed on the message to Haryana, but were told that the entire quantum of water is being released. Haryana also informed us that there are in no position to release any additional quantum of water because they need water as much as Delhi does. Both the States have stuck to their respective claims, but since the DJB has been claiming that its water production has been affected, we have decided to ask the CWC to intervene and investigate,” said an official of the UYRB.

The official said this is not the first time that there has been a prolonged spat over water sharing between Haryana and Delhi. “For some reason they always accuse and counter accuse over water sharing in June. It has happened with regularity in the past as well. About two years ago when DJB said it was not getting the full 425 cusec at Haiderpur, we had to request the CWC to ask both the States for their records to get to the bottom of the accusations and rectify the problem,” said the official.

The UYRB official said the CWC will be requested to submit its report by next week. “There are too many claims and counter claims. If both the States want to, there can be a meeting with all the concerned agencies to sort out the issue, but so far we have not been approached for that. Both sides have only been complaining to us,” the official said.

A senior official of the Haryana administration said it has apprised the concerned agencies of the “facts” and insisted that “Delhi is getting its full share.”

“Let them [Delhi] go to the Supreme Court, we will prove that we are supplying full quantity of water and there is no violation of the apex court's orders. We have not reduced the supply at all, Delhi is getting its full supply if 425 cusec at Wazirabad and we are ready to prove it.”