Delhi Water Crisis: Legal Battle And War Of Exchanges (image: screen grab from x.com/garg_trupti)

Amid the intense heatwave, people in Delhi are undergoing severe water crisis over the past few weeks. They are increasingly dependent on the water tankers in several regions.

Here are the 10 pointers on the current status of Delhi water shortage:

1. The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed Delhi government over the existence of tanker mafia and water wastage in the city. A vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale enquired Delhi government what measures it has taken in the matter.

2. The Top Court told the Delhi government that they will ask the Delhi Police to take action in the matter, if it can’t deal with tanker mafia, PTI reports as the Court is saying.

3. The Court has asked the AAP government to file a report stating action taken for the loss of water. The matter will be taken up on Thursday.

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4. Earlier Wednesday, Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote to the Chief Secretary instructing him to maker sure that these teams monitor and inspect the main water distribution network from water sources to the water treatment plants and from WTPs to primary Underground Reservoirs (UGRs).

Since Delhi is facing an acute water shortage in the heat wave, measures are being taken to prevent wastage of any water.

Special teams of ADMs/ SDMs have been deployed to monitor the main water distribution network to ensure no wastage of water due to leakages pic.twitter.com/Yp2xQCYbvt

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) June 12, 2024

5. Atishi also instructed that a daily compiled report of all the inspections made in this regard by every Quick Response Team be submitted to the office of the undersigned by 5:00 PM every day.

6.  The water crisis has also ensued political tension between the ruling AAP government and BJP-led Centre as the situation continues.

7. Last week, the Supreme Court directed the government of Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of surplus water and ordered Haryana to facilitate smooth water flow to the national capital. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and P B Varale said that Delhi is undergoing severe water crisis and it is an “existential” problem.

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8. On Tuesday, Atishi again accused the Haryana government of intentionally and illegally pausing the water supply to Delhi.

9. A sharp exchange of words has also occurred between Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena and the AAP government concerning who is responsible for the Delhi water shortage.

10. The national capital’s main sources of water are the Yamuna, Ganga, and Ravi-Beas rivers. Delhi receives 470 cusecs of water from the Ganga via the Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh. The continuing heatwave has increased water demands in the region, where Yamuna’s water level is decreasing.