06 June,2024 02:04 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Supreme Court/ File Photo
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Himachal Pradesh government to provide 137 cusecs of extra water to Delhi, which is currently experiencing a severe water shortage. A vacation bench of Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan, who heard the case on Delhi water crisis, observed that Himachal Pradesh had no objections to releasing the extra water.
The bench instructed the Haryana government to ensure that the water flows smoothly to the national capital amid the Delhi water crisis. The court emphasised that the Delhi administration should not waste water and directed Himachal Pradesh to deliver the extra water on June 7 with prior notice to Haryana, reported PTI.
According to the report, during the hearing, the bench highlighted the need to avoid political meddling in water-related problems. The court has set the next hearing for June 10.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea from the Delhi government, which asked for an order directing Haryana to share surplus water given by Himachal Pradesh to help alleviate the Delhi water crisis. The Centre, BJP-governed Haryana, and Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh were among the parties to the petition, which emphasised that access to water is a fundamental human right and necessary for living, the report stated.
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The Delhi administration has also requested that Haryana quickly and regularly release water from the Wazirabad barrage, including the whole surplus water granted by Himachal Pradesh for Delhi's National Capital Territory (NCT).
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi minister Atishi took to social media to thank the Supreme Court for its order on the Delhi water crisis.
"I thank the Hon'ble Supreme Court for standing with the people of Delhi during this unprecedented water crisis. This is a time that calls for coordinated effort above all else, and the SC order marks a victory for the people of Delhi and their right to water," wrote Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi after the Supreme Court order.
