New Delhi: Delhi government minister Atishi Marlena, who is on the second day of her fast over the Delhi water crisis, has vowed to continue her agitation indefinitely until the Haryana government releases water to 28 lakh residents of Delhi.
Marlena said Delhi is supposed to receive 613 MGD of water, but for several weeks, the Haryana government has been releasing only 513 MGD.
She said she had to resort to an indefinite fast after had “tried everything” to meet the water needs of Delhi residents.
The water woes of Delhi residents have been compounded by record heatwave conditions in the national capital. Long lines of people queuing up before water tankers are being witnessed across the city.
According to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Haryana governments have been flouting the tri-party Yamuna water-sharing agreement by withholding water to Delhi.
The Supreme Court intervened in the matter and ordered the Upper Yamuna River Board to address the issue. Meanwhile, AAP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have blamed each other for the crisis. The BJP is of the view that the AAP government is not stopping the water tank mafias from “stealing” water before it reaches the people.
The BJP-ruled Haryana government has also blamed the AAP government in Delhi, saying that Delhi is receiving more than its share of water as agreed under the tri-party Yamuna water-sharing agreement.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) released a report on Thursday, showing that Delhi has extracted 99% of its groundwater already. As a result, Delhi is more dependent on other states to help meet its water needs, the report said, according to Hindustan Times.
Police use water canons against those protesting for water
Delhi Police used water canons against protestors protesting outside Delhi Jal Board filling pump in Okhla. BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri led the protest.
The videos and pictures showing Delhi Police using water canons to disperse protestors have drawn criticism from many on social media. Many of them pointed out the irony of using the water to muzzle a protest for water.
Happens only in India!
Use a water cannon to muzzle a protest against water crisis.#delhi— Manoj Arora (@manoj_216) June 22, 2024
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Instead, the water tank could have been given to the protesters. They might have thanked the police for the water.
— Sreedharan V (@SreeVaradan) June 22, 2024
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