The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) to hold an emergency meeting on June 5 to properly address the issue of water scarcity in Delhi. To alleviate the country’s ongoing water crisis, the Delhi government was seeking the Supreme Court to order Haryana to release the excess water that Himachal Pradesh had given to the capital.
The bench representing the Center and the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have agreed to hold a UYRB meeting to resolve the issue of water scarcity in the national capital, according to a vacation bench of judges. PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan. “During the hearing, all parties agreed that there should be a non-confrontational approach to the problem of water scarcity faced by the citizens of Delhi,” the court said.
He said the lawyers “agreed that there will be an emergent meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board on June 5 to address the issues raised in this petition and all other related issues in all seriousness so that the problem of water scarcity for the citizens of Delhi will be adequately addressed.”
The court said the matter will be posted for hearing on June 6 along with the minutes of the board meeting and suggested steps to be taken by the concerned parties to resolve the issue.
The court said the matter will be posted for hearing on June 6 along with the minutes of the board meeting and suggested steps to be taken by the concerned parties to resolve the issue.
The Centre, BJP-ruled Haryana state and Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh state have joined the case filed by Delhi Water Minister Atishi, arguing that access to water is a right fundamental human and necessary for living. The petition aims to direct the Haryana government to release water into the Wazirabad dam immediately and continuously. This release should include all excess water that Himachal Pradesh supplies to the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), among other things.
(With input from PTI)