Chandigarh: The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the State of Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of surplus water to address the drinking water crisis in Delhi. The court also directed the Haryana government to ensure the uninterrupted flow of this water from the Hathnikund barrage to Wazirabad.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan instructed Himachal Pradesh to release the surplus water on June 7, with prior notification to Haryana. The bench also mandated the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to measure the water released by Himachal Pradesh at the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana.

Haryana has been instructed not to obstruct the water flow to Delhi but to facilitate it. The bench stated, "Considering the urgency, we direct Himachal Pradesh to release 137 cusecs of water from upstream so it reaches Hathnikund barrage and then flows to Delhi through Wazirabad. The surplus water shall be released by Himachal Pradesh tomorrow with prior intimation. Haryana shall facilitate the flow of water from Hathnikund to Wazirabad so it reaches Delhi without obstruction, ensuring the residents receive drinking water."

The court also sought a status report on this matter by Monday.

The Delhi government had approached the Supreme Court due to the acute water shortage exacerbated by severe heat conditions in North India, particularly in Delhi. The plea filed by the Delhi government requested the continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage by Haryana.

The plea highlighted that record-high temperatures and heatwaves in Delhi, with maximum temperatures reaching up to around 50 degrees Celsius in some areas, have led to an extraordinary surge in water demand. This shortage has caused frequent supply cuts, disrupting daily life for many residents.

Despite taking all administrative measures to optimize and ration water supply, the shortage remains severe, necessitating additional water. The Delhi government noted that Himachal Pradesh had agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi to address this demand.

However, since Himachal Pradesh does not share a direct boundary with Delhi, the surplus water must be transported through Haryana's water channels to reach the Wazirabad barrage. The Delhi government stated that Haryana's cooperation, which has not been forthcoming, is essential for this process.

The petition emphasized that despite repeated requests, Haryana has not yet agreed to release the surplus water. The Delhi government clarified that it is not seeking to blame Haryana or any other state but is urgently requesting a resolution to the ongoing water crisis through the release of surplus water from Himachal Pradesh via Haryana.

The plea concluded by stating that Delhi seeks this surplus water release from Haryana as a one-time solution to address the current emergency and resolve the water crisis in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Natasa Stankovic Silences Divorce Rumors with Latest Social Media Move

How Uganda Achieved Their First Victory in the T20 World Cup 2024

South African Cabinet Minister Arrested Over Bribery Allegations: What's Next?