Himachal’s U-Turn: No Surplus to Share with Delhi Amid Water Crisis

The Supreme Court is involved in a dispute over Delhi’s water shortage. Himachal Pradesh previously stated it didn’t have spare water to send to the capital, but later confirmed it had released some water. However, the government subsequently claimed that the 137 cusecs of water were “unutilised after use of irrigation and part of natural course of river flow”.

The court warned the Himachal government and asked the Upper River Yamuna Board to find a resolution. Meanwhile, residents of Delhi are suffering from the water shortage and the activities of the tanker mafia are exacerbating the situation. The court criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government for wastage of water and questioned its actions against the tanker mafia.

The water minister of Delhi has accused government officials of aiding the mafia and has sought an inquiry. The court is also hearing the Delhi government’s petition for Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal to Delhi, which has been rejected by the Haryana government.