Delhi water crisis: SC directs Himachal Pradesh govt to release surplus water; asks Delhi govt to stop wastage

June 6, 2024

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the Himachal Pradesh government to ensure the continuous release of excess water on Friday, ensuring its uninterrupted flow to Delhi for drinking purposes.

A bench headed by Justice P.K. Mishra said, “We direct that Himachal Pradesh shall release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it on Friday so that the water reaches Hathni Kund barrage and reaches Delhi through Wazirabad.

As and when surplus water is released with prior information by the state of Himachal Pradesh, the state of Haryana shall facilitate the flow of surplus water so released.”

Himachal Pradesh has no objection to releasing the surplus water available with it.

The apex court said that the Delhi government should adhere to the measures suggested by the Upper Yamuna River Board to prevent wastage of water since there is an acute shortage of drinking water in the national capital.

Posting the matter for further hearing on June 10, it ordered for filing of a status report and compliance affidavits in the meantime. In an earlier hearing, the top court ordered the river board to convene an urgent meeting on June 5 to address the water crisis in the city, stressing that the problems of scarcity of water for the citizens of Delhi should be properly addressed.

Why did Delhi face water crisis?

There are two reasons for water crisis in Delhi – heat and dependence on neighbouring states. Delhi does not have its own water source. It is dependent on neighbouring states for water. According to Delhi Jal Board, this year Delhi is facing a shortage of 32.1 crore gallons of water per day.

According to Delhi Jal Board, the state needs 129 crore gallons of water every day. But in summers, only 96.9 crore gallons of water per day is being met. That means Delhi’s 2.30 crore population needs 129 crore gallons of water every day, but it is getting only 96.9 crore gallons of water.

Delhi gets water from these states
The Haryana government meets the water needs of Delhi from the Yamuna river, the Uttar Pradesh government from the Ganga river and the Punjab government from Bhakra Nangal. According to a report of 2023, Delhi used to get 38.9 crore gallons of water from Yamuna, 25.3 crore gallons from the Ganga river and 22.1 crore gallons from the Ravi-Beas river from Bhakra-Nangal every day.

Apart from this, 9 crore gallons of water came from wells, tube wells and ground water. That is, Delhi used to get 95.3 crore gallons of water every day. For 2024, this figure has increased to 96.9 crore gallons.