The Supreme Court of India.
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh governments for supplying more water to the national capital in view of the severe water woes faced by it.
Amid severe heatwaves, the Delhi government stated, “Access to water is one of the basic human rights of an individual. Not only is water essential for sustenance, but access to water also forms an essential component of the guarantee of dignity and a quality of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution."
The current water crisis, which may only get worse, violates the right to a dignified and quality life of the people of NCT of Delhi, who are unable to access even adequate clean drinking water, the Delhi government claimed in its petition.
“Due to the increased demand, which will continue till the end of June, which is when the monsoon begins in Delhi, the water levels of the Wazirabad barrage has been critically reduced, which has resulted in water shortage, putting the health and well-being of 25 million residents of NCT at grave risk,” the plea said.
It claimed this unprecedented surge in temperature, during the dry, arid summer, has triggered an extraordinary and excessive demand for water, which is not met by supply from the neighboring states, thereby precipitating a full-fledged water and sanitation crisis.
Water Minister Atishi filed the petition before the court contending that the filing of 'this petition has been necessitated by an acute heatwave and an issuance of a red alert in the NCT, with temperatures soaring to a record-breaking high of 52.9 degrees Celsius.'
According to reports, many areas in Delhi including Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp, Geeta colony in East Delhi, Patel Nagar, various parts of North and South Delhi , Mehrauli, Chhatarpur and others faced acute water shortages. Many people in these areas failed to get even minimum amount of water, despite standing in a queue for it.
After taking cognisance of the water crisis, the AAP government desperately pleaded to the court to issue immediate appropriate directions or orders to the Haryana, UP and HP state government, to provide additional water for at least a month, keeping in view of the heatwave and woes.
In its application, the Delhi government said that the need for water for the residents has increased in the national capital.
"Delhi's need for water has increased in the scorching heat. It is everyone's responsibility to fulfill the needs of the country's capital," the plea said.
The Delhi government had earlier ordered to impose a fine of Rs 2,000 on wastage of water and formed 200 teams to enforce the penalty on those who allegedly wasted it.
The temperatures in Delhi recently almost touched 50 degrees Celsius and people are unable to get any relief so far, as the South West monsoon is not likely to hit Delhi before June 20-25.