Kejriwal seeks PM's intervention to avoid water crisis, LG says in touch with Haryana, Centre

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention in ensuring sufficient water supply from Haryana as the national capital stares at a possible water crisis next week.

In his letter to the prime minister, Kejriwal said the city had been receiving 1,133 cusecs of water from Haryana since 1996, but recently, for the first time in 22 years, the neighbouring state had contested Delhi's right over this water and partially stopped the supply to the national capital.

"The Supreme Court has directed Haryana to keep supplying the earlier quantity of water till May 21, which means the state could reduce water supply after Monday," he said.

If that happens, it would create an "unprecedented shortage of water" in Delhi and could lead to a "serious" law and order situation, the chief minister said.

"I would urge you (PM) to kindly use your good offices to persuade Haryana to continue supplying same level of water that it has been supplying for the last 22 years and not to disrupt it till the issue is finally decided by the courts," Kejriwal said in the letter.

In a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the chief minister said, "Just two days are left, we need to act fast to prevent a crisis."