‘Water scarcity a matter of shame’
Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday accepted that many areas of the city are facing severe water crisis. However, she blamed Haryana and accused the neighbouring state of not honouring its commitment to supply 80 mgd water from the Munak Canal.
“Many parts of Delhi do not get water and it is a matter of shame for us. We do not have water. What can we do?” she said, addressing a function organised by Assocham.
Describing the situation as “tough”, Ms Dikshit said inspite of severe water crisis, her government managed to give “some water” to the citizens by ensuring equitable distribution.
“At least, I have not heard anybody saying that someone died of thirst,” she said.
The Munak Canal was constructed by Haryana with financial assistance of around `400 crores given by the Delhi government on the condition that the national capital will be supplied 80 mgd water from it. But later, Haryana refused to give the promised share of water to the city. As both sides failed to settle the dispute, the Prime Minister had set up a GoM headed by then home minister P. Chidambaram in 2011.
Another GoM headed by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde was set up by the Prime Minister couple of months back after both the states refused to accept the recommendations of the previous GoM.
“We spent lot of money and acquired land for construction of a tunnel to bring water from Haryana. The tunnel has been constructed but it is lying unutilised for past seven years. There is a tussle going on. Haryana says it will not give water. We do not have any control on this,” she added.
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