Delhi Water Crisis: The residents in the national capital have been reeling under a water crisis for over a week now, and no relief is in sight in the coming days. Amid the scorching heat and searing heatwaves, the residents of Delhi are heavily relying on water tankers for the supply of water to fulfill their daily needs.
In the visuals shared by news agency ANI on Sunday, scores of people were seen around water tankers in parts of Delhi to secure water. Water was supplied through tankers to residents in the Okhla area.
Similar visuals surfaced from Delhi's Govindpuri area, where people gathered around to collect water amid a severe shortage.
As the residents in the national capital struggle for water, Delhi Water Minister Atishi wrote a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora. "I am writing to request deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect our major pipelines for the next 15 days to stop miscreants or people with ulterior motives from tampering water pipelines which have now become Delhi's lifelines. At this juncture any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi," the letter read.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress sought to corner the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the crisis in the city. On Saturday, the Congress held a 'Matka Phod' protest in all 280 blocs of the national capital over the water crisis.
Congress, a constituent of the opposition bloc INDIA alongside the AAP, has criticised the state government, as well as the Central government, for "neglecting" public grievances and "providing cover" to tanker mafias.
"Today, I participated in the Matka breaking demonstration in Shakarpur, Delhi, along with District President Manoj Yadav Ji, Surendra Sharma Ji, Murari Lal Ji, Delhi Congress leaders and local area residents. Delhiites are suffering the consequences of tanker mafia, leakage and the government's negligence. We will strongly convey the voice of the rights of the people of Delhi to the government," Devender Yadav, President of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, said in a post on X.
Earlier, Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri also led a similar protest against the Delhi government in Chhatarpur, where a significant number of women participated in it, carrying pots on their heads and breaking them while raising slogans.
AAP Blames Haryana, Himachal For Water Crisis
While, the AAP is blaming the neighbouring states, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, for "deliberately halting" Delhi's water supply, as reported by news agency IANS. Congress has alleged that despite Himachal Pradesh releasing 133 cusecs of water, it did not reach the capital. The grand old party demanded an investigation into this matter and also the activities of the tanker mafia.
In a recent meeting, Delhi Congress leaders, including former MPs and MLAs, also discussed the Central government's "indifference" to the water scarcity in Delhi.