"We presented the factual position, which is, Haryana is
supplying Delhi more than double its share of water." said Haryana Chief
Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda
After weeks of trading allegations and a two-hour meeting between
the Chief Ministers of the two States on Monday, the ongoing water sharing
dispute between Delhi and Haryana was eventually attributed to “heat”, “high
demand”, “miscommunication” and “poor water management on Delhi’s side”.
If there was an agreement between the two sides, it could not be
spelt out. Both sides maintained it was a “cordial meeting” and outstanding
issues will be sorted through discussions, but no details were offered.
He refused to quantify the share and sidestepped the details of
just how much water is Delhi presently being supplied and what is the quantum
of the shortfall.
The explanation for the squabble over water he said was “the
increase in temperature, high demand and population”.
“It is very hot and we all need water. We cleared some
miscommunication, and Haryana has agreed that Delhi has a water crisis. We told
the Delhi CM we will try to solve it. We have also suggested that Delhi should
improve its water management,” Mr. Hooda said.
However, he was evasive when questioned whether Haryana will
release additional water to Delhi to ease the water crisis that the State has
finally agreed to recognise.
“We have told them that Delhi as per the 1994 Memorandum of
Understanding was entitled to six per cent of the Yamuna waters, which is
238-250 cusec at Wazirabad for consumptive use,” he said, declining to mention
the quantum of water that it is now receiving or even demanding.
On the contentious Munak Canal issue that has been hanging fire,
Mr. Hooda said: “We have told Delhi that they have to first close the cut in
the canal, and then we will release water from it. The Upper Yamuna River Board
has also asked Delhi to close this cut and the Delhi Jal Board has not allowed
us to do so.”
The Delhi Jal Board had made an intake regulator and a pump house
on the Munal Canal at Iradat Nagar within the territory of Delhi to draw water
for the Dwarka water treatment plant. Haryana has been objecting to this, on
the grounds that Delhi will draw more water than its allocation through this
regulator. Delhi on the other hand has claimed that it will use the water that
it is entitled to from the savings made by switching to the Munak Canal. Delhi
even offered to construct gates between the channel and the pump-house,
allowing Haryana to control these gates.
Delhi has also been arguing that it will earn 80 MGD additional
water as savings from the Munak Canal, of which 20 MGD will be used for the
Dwarka plant.
But Haryana on Monday had its way and said supply of water
through Munak will remain conditional. It also steered clear of discussing the
issue of releasing 80 MGD additional water to Delhi when the Munak Canal
becomes operational.
The Haryana Chief Minister also denied that he had earlier
refused to take Ms. Dikshit’s call and said: “Delhi is the Capital of the
country and I am also concerned. But Haryana is also part of the same country.
We also have a water crisis; our demand has also gone up. Ms. Dikshit is like
my sister and I respect her. Between 2005 and 2012 Haryana has never stopped
the water supply to Delhi,” he added.
On how the water sharing issue escalated and why the Prime
Minister’s Office had to step in, Mr. Hooda said: “The Prime Minister is for
the entire country, he is concerned about everyone.”
Apart from the two Chief Ministers, the Monday meeting was also
attended by the Union Water Resources Secretary. A statement from the Delhi
Chief Minister’s office said: “Both sides expressed their confidence that the
meeting has helped in doing a spade work, which will go a long way in
overcoming the present situation. They were hopeful that the things will be
settled soon. A solution is being worked out.”
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