Delhi Water Crisis

Groundwater extraction in Delhi reduced from 127% to 99% in 2023: CGWA

The Central Ground Water Authority has informed the National Green Tribunal that groundwater extraction in the national capital has reduced from 127 per cent in 2013 to 99 per cent in 2023. Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had taken suo motu cognisance of a PTI report regarding a UN study predicting that several parts of the country could experience critically low groundwater availability by 2025. It had also sought a response from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). In its action-taken report dated January 1, the CGWA said that along with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), it took several steps to increase groundwater levels, such as promoting artificial recharge, rainwater harvesting, sustainable agricultural practices, and community participation. "On reviewing the comparison of state-wise resource assessment reports from 2013 to 2023, it is evident that in most of the states/Union Territories (UTs), the percentage of groundwater extraction has significant

After toxic air, now Delhi faces water crisis: Key updates

Amid toxic air, Delhi hit by water shortage; key areas to face disruptions

The water shortage will impact areas like Majnu Ka Tila, ISBT, GPO, NDMC area, Defence Colony, South Extension, Greater Kailash, and Punjabi Bagh

Delhi's groundwater extraction at 99% while Bengaluru at 150%: Govt

Delhi's groundwater resources are heavily strained, with the overall extraction rate at 99.13 per cent, categorised as "critical", while the situation in Bengaluru is even more alarming with the overall groundwater extraction rate at 150.84 per cent, the Jal Shakti ministry said on Monday. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, said that while desalination technology using reject heat from nuclear reactors is operational at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, it is not widely applicable. Instead, the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology is deemed suitable for treating groundwater, the minister said. The government has also assessed groundwater dynamics in urban areas like Delhi and Bengaluru, but similar data for Mumbai is unavailable due to insufficient data collection. Delhi's groundwater resources are heavily strained, with the overall extraction rate at 99.13 per cent, which is categorised as "critical", Choudhary ...

Delhi water crisis: Which prime areas are affected?

Delhi LG calls drains condition appalling, says result of years of neglect

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday said the condition of drains in the national capital is the result of "years of neglect". On August 4, Saxena inspected three arterial drains -- Barapulla, Kushak, and Sunehri -- and flagged their state as "appalling" and noted that they were filled with silt and debris. In a post on X, Saxena said, "The city's major drains, clogged with silt and garbage, are mainly responsible for the waterlogging and the resulting hellish conditions in Delhi every year. This condition of Delhi's drains is, clearly, the result of years of neglect and negligence". Saxena noted that the Barapulla, Kushak, and Sunehri drains alone are responsible for draining the water from 24 per cent of the entire Delhi area, "but these drains are not able to work even at 10 per cent of their capacity". "The reason is clear. The cleaning work started after my visit on August 4 and in the last 10 days more than 1200 MT of silt has been removed from these drains," he ...

Delhi area where IAS aspirants died waterlogged again after fresh rains

Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area, where three students died due to flooding in the basement of a coaching centre last week, was again submerged following heavy rain on Wednesday evening with commuters wading through waterlogged lanes and fearing for their safety. Several videos surfaced of the flood-like situation on the stretch that is lined with many coaching centres. The BJP attacked the AAP saying it had not learnt any lesson from the tragedy even as AAP shared videos of its MLA from the area Durgesh Pathak assisting people on the ground and ensuring water was being pumped out. Drenched in the rain, students who have been protesting since the incident happened on July 27 shouted slogans while standing in thigh-high water. "We had come out from our home for dinner and it suddenly started raining and within minutes the whole area got flooded with water," a resident said. "Even after five days (of the death of the UPSC aspirants), the administration and MCD are only using their ...

North Delhi water supply hit by Munak Canal breach, repairs in progress

Munak Canal breach updates: While water supply in most areas normalised by Thursday, Dwarka residents may face disruptions till repairs are complete by Friday evening

BJP blames AAP for Delhi's waterlogging woes, AAP faults central govt

The BJP on Monday blamed the AAP government for waterlogging woes in Delhi after the rains last week and warned the situation could recur as around 300 drain pumps were still not functioning. The meteorological department has issued an "orange" alert for rains in Delhi for the next two days. Addressing a press conference, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva alleged the primary reason for the flooding on June 28 was the Arvind Kejriwal government's "failure" to operate water drainage pumps. "If it rains again, Delhi will flood again," he claimed and added that on June 28, out of Delhi's 696 permanent water drainage pumps, 400 were not working and "even now almost 300 are not operational". The ruling AAP in Delhi claimed in a statement that the maximum flooding occurred in areas of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) which is under the BJP-led central government. "The BJP is pointing fingers at the Delhi government to hide from the reality of the flooding in the homes of MPs, .

News updates: CBI examines Kejriwal in Tihar Jail, court appearance tomorrow

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Atishi's hunger strike over water crisis ends after hospitalisation: AAP

Delhi Water Minister Atishi ended her indefinite fast over the water scarcity in the national capital after she was hospitalised early Tuesday, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said. At a press conference here, Singh said Atishi's health deteriorated after being on fast for nearly five days. Her blood sugar level dropped to 36 mg/dL and she was admitted to the LNJP Hospital around 3.45 am, he added. The MP said doctors insisted on her hospitalisation and even warned that her life could be in peril. Atishi is now admitted to the ICU and tests are being conducted, so the indefinite hunger strike has been stopped, he said. The AAP MP said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide Delhi with its rightful share of water from Haryana. The issue will also be raised by AAP and its political allies, he added. In the last three weeks, Delhi's share in the Yamuna was reduced by Haryana by 100 MGD. However, it has started increasing over the last two days and the shortfall is o

Water crisis can impact India's sovereign credit strength: Moody's

A level below 1,700 cubic meters indicates water stress, with 1,000 cubic meters being the threshold for water scarcity, according to the govt

Atishi's health deteriorates due to hunger strike, admitted to hospital

Atishi's indefinite hunger strike entered its fifth day on Tuesday. She said that Haryana is not releasing Delhi's share of water

Until 2.8 mn Delhiites get water, indefinite fast will continue: Atishi

Water minister Atishi said she would continue her indefinite hunger strike, which entered the fourth day on Monday, despite adverse health effects until Haryana released the "rightful share of Delhi's water". "My blood pressure and sugar levels are dropping and my weight has gone down. Ketone level is very high which can have harmful effects in the long run. No matter how much my body suffers, I will continue the fast till Haryana releases water," she said. In a video message, the Delhi minister said she was medically examined by doctors on Sunday. The minister claimed Haryana has reduced Delhi's share in Yamuna water by 100 million gallons per day (MGD) for the last three weeks. The 100 MGD less water has caused a shortage, affecting 28 lakh people in Delhi, she said. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena after a meeting with the AAP delegation on Sunday said Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has assured to look into whether his state can provide extra water to the city.

Delhi ministers seek urgent action on water crisis in letter to PM Modi

Delhi cabinet ministers have written a letter to Prime Narendra Modi and urged him to resolve the water crisis in the national capital on a priority basis, Environment minister Gopal Rai said on Monday. Addressing a press conference, Delhi cabinet ministers said Atishi's indefinite fast has entered the fourth day and her health is deteriorating. The ministers held a meeting at the hunger strike site in Jangpura's Bhogal, where they decided to write a letter to the prime minister seeking a solution to the issue. "We also invite Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena, all officers to Wazirabad, Bawana to see the readings of flow metres and see the water levels of the river there. Data is available for the water released by Haryana and they can see for themselves how the water has reduced," he said. Asserting that Delhi should get its due share of water, the minister announced that in the evening a candle light march will be carried out in support of Atishi's indefinite fast.

Water crisis: L-G assures AAP delegation of commitment to resolving issue

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena assured an AAP delegation that met him here on Sunday over the water crisis in the city that he will try to resolve the issue. During the meeting, the 10-member delegation highlighted that Delhi has been receiving 113 million gallons per day (MGD) less water than what it is entitled to, a statement said. The delegation noted that Delhi's population increased from 1.1 crore in 1994 to three crore now while the amount of water it has been receiving remained the same and stressed for urgent action over the matter, it said. The L-G assured the delegation of his commitment to resolving the issue and making every effort to ensure Delhi receives its fair share of water from Haryana, it said. The delegation comprised 10 prominent AAP members, including Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and N D Gupta, General Secretary Pankaj Gupta, Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, and MLAs Dilip Pandey, Somnath Bharti, Rajesh Gupta and Rituraj Jha. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay

Delhi water crisis: AAP's 10-member delegation meets with L-G Saxena

A delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) met Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Sunday over the water crisis in the national capital and said they were assured that the matter would be taken up with the Haryana government. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti were among the 10-member delegation that met Saxena. "The monsoon is expected around June 28. The rains have already started in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh. It is a matter of one week. We have requested him to get Delhi water for this one week," Bharadwaj told reporters after the meeting. Bharadwaj said Saxena has assured them of talking to the Haryana government regarding the matter.

Haryana closed barrage gates that releases water to Delhi: Atishi

Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Sunday said the Haryana government has closed all gates of Hathnikund Barrage that is used to release water for Delhi, and added that she will continue her indefinite hunger strike over it. Atishi's indefinite hunger strike to demand water for Delhi, which is under the grip of a severe water crisis and scorching heat, entered the third day here. In a video message on X, she said, "I have been on a hunger strike to get Delhi's share of water. Haryana government is releasing 100 MGD water less which is depriving nearly 28 lakh people of Delhi of water. Some journalists have said that the Hathnikund Barrage is full of water but Haryana government has shut all gates to stop that water from reaching the national capital." The minister urged the Haryana government to release water for Delhi. "My hunger strike will continue till Delhi gets its rightful share of water," she added. Delhi is dependent on Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for the supply of drinking ...

Atishi's blood sugar, pressure levels dip on Day 2 of hunger strike

Water Minister Atishi's blood sugar level dipped by 16 units while her blood pressure also fell on Saturday, the second day of her indefinite fast demanding the release of the city's rightful share of water by Haryana, according to the Delhi government. Atishi started the 'Pani Satyagraha' at Bhogal in south Delhi on Friday. She has claimed that Haryana has reduced Delhi's share of Yamuna water to 513 million gallons per day (MGD) amid the persistent heat, affecting over 28 lakh people in the national capital. The Delhi government, in a statement on Saturday, said that on the second day of her hunger strike, Atishi's blood pressure was 119/79 mmHg, blood sugar 83 mg/d, weight 65.1 kg and oxygen level 98. On Friday, her blood pressure was 132/88 mmHg, blood sugar 99 mg/dL, weight 65.8 kg and oxygen level 98, it said. "Doctors say rapid fall in blood sugar level is dangerous if hunger strike continues, the sugar level will decrease further and this can increase ketone level in the ..

L-G failed to acknowledge water shortage in Delhi due to Haryana: Bharadwaj

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday hit back at Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for holding the AAP government responsible for the city's water crisis, claiming he failed to acknowledge that the shortage was mainly due to BJP-ruled Haryana blocking 100 MGD of water. Bharadwaj also alleged that Saxena was functioning like a "BJP L-G" and not the L-G of Delhi. The Delhi urban development minister, however, agreed with Saxena that governance needs a consistent endeavour to deliver for the people by building consensus. "But we are unable to understand why the L-G does not hold the BJP-led Haryana government to the same yardstick despite being fully aware that the Haryana government has been blocking over 100 MGD of Delhi's rightful share of water for the past many days," he said in a statement. As a constitutional functionary, blaming the ruling party in Delhi of playing politics while "turning a blind eye" to the hard facts of falling water supply to the city by the BJP-led ..