No solution to Munak Carrier Canal issue

The differences between Haryana and Delhi over a cut made by the latter on the Munak Carrier Canal for diverting water for its Dwarka treatment plant could not be resolved today at an inter-state meeting convened by the Centre and the issue is likely to be referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM).
The fifth meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board also saw the two states agreeing on regular repair of the canal, cost of the repair to be borne by the Delhi government and creation of a water release monitoring system.
The Board, chaired by Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, decided that draft MoUs for construction of Renuka, Lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau reservoirs on river Yamuna would be circulated to the member states within 15 days. The states will have to send their views on the MoUs in another 15 days. It will be considered that the states which fail to send their views in time have agreed to the provisions.

Since there were divergent views on closing the cut on the canal, the matter could be referred to a recently set up Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
Built by Haryana but funded by Delhi for concrete lining, the channel has been a bone of contention between the two neighbours from the last few years.
"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," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said after the meeting.

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.
In the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said his state is supplying more water to Delhi than its legitimate share as per 1994 MoU. He said the Carrier Lined Channel has been completed by Haryana. However, Delhi must plug the unauthorised cut, so that it becomes operational.
UP Irrigation Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said Delhi should release clean water for the state as pollutants were damaging the crop.

Besides Dikshit and Hooda, the meeting was was attended Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Hema Ram Choudhary, UP Irrigation Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, Himachal Pradesh Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania and top Water Resources Ministry officials.