Suggest agency for regular water release, HC asks Haryana, Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked Delhi and Haryana governments to suggest on an "independent agency" which will ensure that water is released on a regular basis, as both the parties continue to dispute over the supply of water in Munak canal here.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul also directed the amicus curiae in the case, advocate Rakesh Khanna, to also give suggestion on appointing an independent body.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) alleged that since the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in the capital, there was a "sudden" reduction in supply of water from Haryana through Munak canal.

DJB's counsel said that the Haryana government has not restored normal supply of water at Munak canal despite repeated requests.

Earlier, the court directed Haryana to release 1,030 cusecs of water per day for the needs of the Delhi residents. Out of this, 719 cusec water was to be fed into Munak canal and 330 cusec into Delhi branch (older canal).

However, Haryana's counsel alleged that Delhi wasted the maximum amount of raw water in the entire country. Haryana said it will release the full supply of water after DJB repairs the twin pipelines connecting Munak career-lined canal (CLC) to Wazirabad WTP.

The bench was irked over a recent incident in which officials of Haryana's irrigation department "physically intervened and disallowed" DJB's staff from taking water for the Nangloi, Dwarka and Bawana WTPs.

"Two states of the country are fighting with each other. Is this a banana republic?" the bench said as it later posted the matter for further hearing on March 27.