NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday wrote to his counterpart in Haryana, M L Khattar, asking him to ensure that Delhi continues to receive full supply of water through the Munak canal. He also asked Khattar to fix date and time so that they can meet in Chandigarh to further discuss this issue.

Haryana reduced supply to Delhi soon after Aam Aadmi Party came to power in the Capital. Haryana maintains that it is supplying more than Delhi’s share of water and no extra water will be released. Khattar too recently said that Delhi should not be dependent on Haryana and should look elsewhere to meet its needs. Munak canal is a new “carrier-lined channel”, constructed to replace the existing western Yamuna canal. A lot of water was being lost through leakages in the older canal because of which Munak was constructed by Haryana, on payment by Delhi. Delhi is claiming the savings, around 80 million gallons per day, saying that Haryana does not have to release any extra water. The savings would be diverted to run three plants at Dwarka, Okhla and Bawana.

With plans afoot to inaugurate the Dwarka WTP on March 1, which is currently producing around 10 MGD of water being diverted from Nangloi, the government finally took up the matter with Haryana. The issue of water sharing over the Munak canal has been dragging on between the two states for the past several years. Even the erstwhile Congress-led governments at the Centre and in both the states, no solution could be found to the problem.

In his letter to Khattar, Kejriwal said: “It has been brought to my notice that raw water released by Haryana irrigation department in Munak CLC has suddenly been reduced, substantially leading to major disruption in production of drinking water supply at the water treatment plants in Delhi. The matter has repeatedly been brought to the attention of officers of the Haryana irrigation department and Delhi Jal Board , but the supply has so far not been restored. Now, with the summer season drawing closer, this continued reduction in supply is bound to lead to a crisis situation in Delhi.”

Kejriwal has asked for Khattar’s personal intervention, asking him to direct the officers concerned of the irrigation department to restore the supplies. “I would also like to come to Chandigarh and meet you personally with my team of officers to discuss the issue. Kindly let me know a date and time of your convenience,” Kejriwal said.

