NEW DELHI: In the tussle over water between Delhi
and Haryana, the latter seems to have done a better job in convincing central
officials. Sources in the central government say that based on reports they
have received from both states over the water shortage in the capital, they are
inclined to more easily accept Haryana's position. What works to Delhi's
advantage, however, is Haryana's past record where it has often cut supply to
the city without cause or provocation.
Upper Yamuna River Board officials carried out an
inspection at the affected water treatment plants on Friday and will issue a
report shortly. HK Sahu, member secretary UYRB said: "We have so far been
relying completely on the data being provided by both states. Based on that it
seems that Haryana is releasing sufficient water and Delhi is receiving less.
Someone is obviously twisting facts. We are now asking the Central Water
Commission to carry out an inspection and check levels." However, sources
added that two years earlier when Delhi had complained of dropping levels at
the Haiderpur water treatment plant, testing by CWC had shown that Haryana's
claims of providing sufficient water were true. "We don't think the system
has changed since then and it is doubtful that Haryana's calculations are
flawed. In another inspection carried out on Friday, it was noted that Haryana
was in fact releasing 575 cusec. In that case, about 480-485 cusec should be
getting to Delhi and the city needs only 425 cusec to run its plants properly.
If despite that there is a shortage in supply, there is something wrong,"
said a government official.
Officials did concede that Haryana might have
increased supply for the duration of their visit. "It is possible that
supply levels were increased for a short period but if that is true then
Haryana is really going to great lengths to fool the government," said
sources.
Meanwhile, as Haryana government said that they
were releasing more water to Delhi than they ever had and the shortfall was an
issue of "internal mismanagement", Delhi Jal Board said the city was
facing a shortfall of about 45 million gallons per day at the Wazirabad and
Haiderpur WTPs.
"Areas that have been affected by the
shortfall in the Haiderpur WTP are west, northwest and southwest Delhi.
Additionally, the pond level at Wazirabad is two feet below the normal level of
672.8 feet which has affected production at the Wazirabad WTP. If levels fall
any further then production at the Chandrawal plant will also be hit. Areas
affected by this shortfall are central, north and southwest Delhi, parts of
Delhi Cantt, and NDMC areas," said a DJB official.
Apart
from rationalizing supply, DJB has also deployed a fleet of 1,000 tankers to
supply water to affected areas. "Our case is very clear. With the same
amount of water, we had no major crisis in 2011. This year there are more areas
added to our network but our efficiency has also increased. Unless the supply
to us has been reduced, why would there suddenly be such a problem," said
a DJB official
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