Dikshit seeks raw water from neighbouring states

With many areas in Delhi facing acute water shortage, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today requested the Centre and neighbouring states to help the city overcome the challenge.
Speaking at the fifth meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Committee, Dikshit emphasised the urgency of Delhi's drinking water requirements and sought speedy construction of Renuka, Lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau dams on river Yamuna.
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat and was attended by Chief Minister of Haryana and Irrigation Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, besides top officials of all the member states.
"I emphasised the urgency of Delhi's drinking water requirements and sought cooperation of the member states and Centre for making available adequate water for Delhi," Dikshit said.

The current average demand of potable water in Delhi is around 1,100 mgd (million gallons per day) and currently Delhi Jal Board supplies around 800 mgd water across the city after treating raw water in its treatment plants.
The demand is projected to touch around 1,400 mgd by end of the 12th Five-Year Plan in 2017. Delhi relies heavily on neighbouring states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for the supply of raw water.

The meeting discussed various issues of common interest regarding water conservation and management of the source resources.
"I also requested the Centre to remove all the hurdles coming the way of upstream storage projects such as construction of Renuka, Lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau dams on river Yamuna and requested that the agreements regarding these projects be finalised quickly by the basin states," Dikshit said.

"These projects will help optimal utilisation of the Yamuna water during the non monsoon months and also improve the ecological health of the river," she said.
Dikshit said interests of all the basin states should be given equal importance while favouring time bound resolution of pending issues regarding water sharing.
The Chief Minister also suggested construction of "big pond" in the National Capital Region for storage of water, while referring to overflowing Yamuna during the monsoon.