DELHI WATER CRISIS: DELHI GOVT. MOVES SC
The Delhi government on Friday (May 31) approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent directions to Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to release more water into the National Capital Territory (NCT) region.
WHY IS THE ISSUE?
The move has come due to an unprecedented surge in temperatures, leading to the rising demand for water.
IS IT THE FIRST TIME THE DELHI GOVT. HAS APPROACHED THE SC?
This is not the first time that the Delhi government has approached the SC over its water woes.
FROM WHERE & WHY DELHI IS SEEKING WATER?
The AAP government has said that Himachal Pradesh has agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi, but the water will have to be transported through the Wazirabad barrage with the Haryana government’s cooperation, which isn’t being provided currently.
WHY DELHI NEEDS SURPLUS WATER?
Additional water supply is necessary due to Delhi-NCR’s large workforce and migrant population, the government added that it was only seeking relief as a “stop-gap arrangement” until the monsoon season’s arrival.
THE 1996 JUDGEMENT OF SC
Disposing of the contempt pleas, a bench of Justices Kuldeep Singh and BL Hansaria on February 29, 1996, ruled, “Delhi shall continue to get as much water for domestic use from Haryana through River Yamuna which can be consumed and filled in the two water reservoirs and treatment plants at Wazirabad and Hyderpur. Both the Wazirabad and Hyderpur reservoirs shall remain full to their capacity from the water supplied by Haryana through River Yamuna.”
The court also directed Haryana not to obstruct the supply of water to Delhi as directed by it, while adding that its order was independent of the MoU signed between the states.
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