Delhi government turned water crisis into chance to blame others: L-G; AAP hits back

In a note, Saxena alleged: “Delhi is dependent on drinking water supply from UP and Haryana… The states are obliged to release water, as per agreements… Unfortunately, neither has the city government demonstrated seriousness in ensuring improvement in water networks and augmentation of capacity, nor has it chosen a path of dialogue.”

He further said: “On several occasions, I impressed upon the CM that governance should be conducted in a harmonious environment… Conflict, fights, oneupmanship and political posturing cannot be tools of governance in perpetuity.” Saxena said the politically elected government “behaves as if it is in opposition in perpetuity” with its “hostility” spilling over to its own officers.

“…even after remaining in power for 10 years, the AAP government did not add a single litre to the water treatment capacity… the supply and distribution network of pipelines are old and leaking,” he alleged. “By the government’s own admission, in its Economic Survey, the unaccounted for water in Delhi is to the tune of 54%,” he further said.

While a network of illegal tankers operated by the “tanker mafia under political patronage” was bleeding the city, Haryana, the L-G said, kept supplying the share of water assigned to it.

The Munak Canal, which supplies water to six out of the seven WTPs in Delhi, was confronting disrepair of the lining that was leading to losses between the site at Kakroi in Haryana and Bawana in Delhi, said Saxena, adding that he had conveyed the problem to Water Minister Atishi.

“Last June, I had written to the CM, highlighting the need for dredging of the pondage area of Wazirabad Barrage… Delhi allows nearly 9,12,500 million gallons of water to literally flow down the river,” he alleged. The L-G said the AAP government resorted to “a devious political game” by blaming Haryana just two days before the elections in Delhi. “The aim was obviously to prejudice the voter,” he added.

Responding to the L-G’s allegations, the AAP announced that all its elected representatives would call on him at Raj Niwas to discuss the issue on Sunday.

Bharadwaj, citing Water Production Data for June 2024 issued by the DJB, alleged that while UP continued to provide its share of water, this was not the case with Haryana. “The entire shortfall of over 100 MGD is due to reduced water supply by the Haryana government… Never in Delhi’s history has water supply been blocked in this manner,” Bharadwaj alleged. “The L-G has conveniently ignored the tremendous efforts of the Kejriwal government to modernise Delhi’s distribution system and prevent water losses, all of which form a part of Delhi government’s submission to the Supreme Court.”

These, Bharadwaj said, included the construction of the Carried Lined Channel between Haryana and Delhi, reducing water losses from 30% to 5%, the replacement of 3,500 km and the laying of over 7,300 km of new pipelines, etc. Bharadwaj further said Saxena was not functioning as the L-G of Delhi, but “like the L-G of BJP”.