Surprisingly, the Himachal Pradesh government has now claimed that it does not have surplus water to send to the drought-stricken national capital, Delhi, despite earlier stating that it had released water for the city.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to Delhi, stating that the drinking water shortage has become an “existential problem” for the residents.
However, Himachal Pradesh’s counsel told the court that the water was “unutilized after use of irrigation and part of the natural course of river flow” and that the state had made a mistake in its earlier statement.
This drew a strong reaction from the Supreme Court, which warned the Himachal Pradesh government of contempt proceedings if it did not comply with the court’s order. The Upper River Yamuna Board, tasked with resolving the issue, had earlier stated that Himachal Pradesh should prove it has been releasing the water for Delhi.
The water crisis in Delhi has become increasingly severe, with residents suffering due to the shortage of drinking water and the activities of the tanker mafia compounding the problem. As the legal battle continues, the hope remains that a resolution can alleviate the city’s dire water situation.
