 "Need more water, ask Punjab to release Haryana share: Khattar to Delhi govt")
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday asked the Delhi's AAP government not to indulge in "petty politics" over the water sharing issue, saying if it wants more water then it should ask Punjab to release his state's "legitimate share".
Punjab is ruled by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which stormed to power in this year's Assembly polls.
A few days ago, the Delhi government had sent an SOS to Haryana, urging it to release additional water in the Yamuna river to prevent a crisis in the national capital.
Khattar said Haryana has been adhering to the water-sharing arrangement with Delhi and releasing more than 1,049 cusecs of Yamuna water every day. "We cannot deprive Haryana of its water and give Delhi more than their legitimate share," he said.
"Instead of doing petty politics on the water issue, the Delhi government should convince the Punjab government to release Haryana's legitimate share of water at the earliest. I promise that the day Punjab will give our share, Haryana will increase Delhi's current water share," said Khattar here.
Khattar said whenever the Delhi Jal Board approached the court, it has always been proved that Haryana is releasing more than 1049 cusecs of water from the Munak headworks against their share of 719 cusecs.
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"Haryana has been supplying water to Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant, Nangloi Water Treatment Plant and Wazirabad/Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant in Delhi," said the CM.
He said on February 29, 1996, the Supreme Court had directed Haryana to provide an additional 330 cusecs of water per day to Delhi.
Earlier, the Delhi's share in water was 719 cusecs per day. In compliance with these orders, Delhi is being given 1,049 cusecs of water every day.
The Delhi government is now lying about the water issue, which is very unfortunate, said Khattar