Delhi Water Crisis: Supreme Court Directs Delhi Govt To Approach Yamuna River Board For Assistance

The Supreme Court on Thursday wrapped the Himachal Pradesh government for making misleading and 'incorrect' statements in court that it has surplus water of 137 cusec that it can release to Delhi government to deal with the water crisis if Haryana government allows passage. The Delhi government led by AAP had approached the top court seeking direction to BJP led Haryana government to release 150 cusec of surplus water from Haryana. The top court on June 6 had directed Haryana to release the surplus water coming from Delhi. The top court after going through submissions of Haryana, Himachal and Delhi governments recalled its June 6 order directing release of surplus water from Himachal to Delhi via Haryana. This development came after the Haryana government informed the top court that when it asked the Himachal government about the excess water, the Himachal's Jal Shakti department replied that the unutilised 137 cusec water is already running uninterrupted through Hathnikund barrage. When Himachal's counsel was confronted on the same, he told the top court that the earlier statement made about surplus water was not correct and he withdrew the statement on which the top court had passed order. The top court wrapped the Himachal government and said that it is not initiating contempt as the crisis in Delhi is more important to deal with. However ASG representing Himachal said that their intention was to not mislead the court, they meant that the un-utilised water is already running to Hathnikund barrage to Haryana and Haryana can release that water to Delhi. In view of Himachal's statements, the top court recalled its June 6 order and said that "order directing release of excess water does not survive and we have reached square 1 on the date of filing of writ petition by Delhi."