Delhi water crisis worsens as Haryana cuts down supply

Areas across the city have already been grappling with acute shortage of water and the situation may worsen further as production at water treatment plants has come down sharply due to shortage of raw water.

Top officials in the Delhi Government said most areas in the city will face severe water shortage and accused the neighbouring state of playing "foul" with Delhi on the water issue.

"People of Delhi are bound to face acute shortage of drinking water as Haryana has arbitrarily and drastically curtailed raw water supply," said a late night statement from Chief Minister's office.

Considering the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit have been trying to speak to her Haryana counterpart Bhupinder Singh Hooda but to no avail, sources said.

Expressing anger at Haryana cutting raw water, Chief Minister's office said Delhi Government would take up the issue "at all levels" as Delhi is not just a city but the national capital.

"We are not asking for any favour. We want what is due to us," it said.

Officials said Chief Secretary P K Tripathi and DJB CEO Debashree Mukherjee have also been requesting top officials in Haryana government to release water to Delhi but so far no positive indication has come from the neighbouring state.

They said production of water in various treatment plants has come down by 45 million gallon per day (MGD) which would leave most people "thirsty" tomorrow. MORE