The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Himachal Pradesh to supply the surplus water to Delhi via Haryana by Friday to overcome the severe water crisis faced by the capital amid heatwave conditions.
“Considering the urgency in the matter, we direct Himachal Pradesh to release the surplus drinking water by June 7, 2024, with prior intimation to Haryana. The Upper Yamuna River Board shall measure the excess water which comes to Hathnikund Barrage for its onward supply to Wazirabad and then to Delhi with sincere required assistance by Haryana,” a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and K.V. Viswanathan said.
The bench passed the directions on a petition filed by Delhi’s AAP seeking a direction to the BJP-led Haryana government to provide water or enable the supply through Himachal Pradesh. According to the SC directive, the Delhi government needs to ensure zero wastage of water by:
- Separating commercial water supply from domestic water supply and curtailing such use during crisis periods in particular industrial and recreational uses
- Use of recycled water for secondary uses such as gardening, car washing
- Improving efficiency in water distribution and uses
- Lining of raw water conveyance channels for long-distance water transfer, including use of closed conduit wherever feasible to bring down conveyance losses
