Build own canal to get water: Haryana minister to Delhi

Haryana's Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar on Thursday asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to construct a canal to get water from the Nangal dam, saying the state can't provide water to the national capital as it has no other option left after Kejriwal opposed the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal project.

"Water is lying available in the Nangal dam for Haryana and Delhi, but we don't have any resource to supply it and you (Kejriwal) opposed our only resource SYL canal in Punjab for your political gains. By doing this, you in fact stood against the interest of the people of Delhi," Dhankar said in a letter to Kejriwal.

"Seeing your stand, Haryana will be unable to supply your share of water through its own canal as you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana," he said.

He said Haryana provides 0.2 million acre-feet water to Delhi by its main line canal which reaches Delhi through the Narwana branch of the West Yamuna canal system.

"Due to this load, Haryana could not get 496 cusec water of its share. Other than this, Haryana also supplies 330 cusec water from the Yamuna canal to Delhi," Dhankar said.

The Delhi government, however, termed it an effort to draw public attention away from the real issue of Haryana.

"This letter has no value for us. It is just an attempt to divert the attention of the people of Haryana from their real issues," Delhi's Water Minister Kapil Mishra told IANS.

He also criticised the Haryana government for failing to control the law and order situation in the state.

"The law and order situation has completely collapsed in Haryana. They should focus on strengthening the situation," he added.