The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to convene a meeting, by first week of June, of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to settle the dispute between Delhi and Haryana over the quantum of water to be released to the national capital through Munak canal.
Justice Hima Kohli asked the Ministry of Water Resources to convene the GoM meeting and to submit a status report before the next date of hearing in September this year.
If the report is not filed on the next date, the concerned Joint Secretary of the ministry will have to be present in the court, she said in an order.
The convening of the meeting assumes significance as according to Delhi Jal Board, around 80 million gallons per day (MGD) of water is to be received through the canal which could help in commissioning of three water treatment plants set up here at a cost of Rs 744 crore.
The order was passed after the ministry submitted an affidavit in the court stating that no development took place at the last meeting of the GoM, held on March 6, as Union Minister Kapil Sibal could not participate due to ill health and that efforts are being made to convene another meeting at an early date.
Advocate Sumeet Pushkarna, appearing for DJB, however, submitted before the court that the process of convening the meeting be expedited so that the Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla water treatment plants get water and commence working at the earliest.
The civic body also stated that once the three plants are operationalised, continuous drinking water can be supplied to Dwarka and other adjoining areas in West Delhi which are currently dependent on tankers for their water needs.
The court was hearing a petition by Mahavir Enclave Complex Colonies Welfare Confederation alleging they have not received a drop of water for more than 20 years from DJB and it is dependent on water supplied through tankers by DDA for its needs.
