June 6th 2024.
The Supreme Court of India has taken notice of the severe water scarcity plaguing the city of Delhi. In a hearing held on Thursday, the apex court directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi on Friday. The court also ordered Haryana to facilitate the flow of this water to the national capital without any political interference.
The bench, comprising of Justices PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan, acknowledged that the Himachal Pradesh government is willing to release the surplus water available with them for Delhi. To better understand the gravity of the situation, the court also explained that one cusec is equivalent to 28.317 liters of liquid flow every second.
In light of the urgency of the matter, the bench directed Himachal Pradesh to release the water on June 7, with prior intimation to Haryana. The Upper Yamuna River Board was tasked with measuring the excess water and supplying it to the Wazirabad plant in Delhi.
The court emphasized the need for prompt action and ordered a status report to be submitted by Monday. It also directed the Delhi government to ensure that the water received is not wasted. The bench further instructed all parties, including Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, to file their compliance affidavits by Monday.
The matter at hand was a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking a direction from Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh. The bench has scheduled the next hearing for June 10. During the previous hearing on June 3, the court had requested an emergent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on June 5 to address the issue at hand.
The Upper Yamuna River Board was established in 1995 with the primary function of regulating the allocation of available water among the beneficiary states. These include Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
During the hearing, the bench noted that a meeting was held on June 5 to discuss the water crisis faced by Delhi. The board members acknowledged the extraordinary heat wave conditions in the city and recommended that Haryana release 150 cusecs of additional water on humanitarian grounds.
The bench also noted that the board's records show that Himachal Pradesh has 137 cusecs of surplus water available between March and June. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, expressed their plea to Himachal Pradesh and stated that Haryana has not responded to their request.
The bench emphasized the gravity of the situation and stressed that there should be no politics involved in the matter. It acknowledged that the issue of water scarcity is an existential problem and should be addressed promptly. The court also urged all parties to put aside political differences and work towards a solution for the greater good.
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