LG Blames Water Mafia, Not Haryana, for Delhi Crisis

Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena’s office has strongly refuted Delhi Water Minister Atishi’s allegations that Haryana is responsible for the water scarcity in the capital. The LG’s office, referencing a recent affidavit filed by the Haryana government in the Supreme Court, claims that Delhi is receiving more than its allocated share of water and attributes the shortages to internal distribution issues and illegal activities by a water tanker mafia.

The LG’s principal secretary, in a letter to the police commissioner, highlighted rampant water theft by tanker mafias from the Munak Canal, which transports water from Haryana to Delhi. Saxena urged the police to increase surveillance and take stringent action against these illegal activities, which he argues significantly contribute to the water crisis in Delhi. The canal, entering Delhi near Bawana, has been a hotspot for these illegal operations. The LG’s office criticised Water Minister Atishi for making “patently and blatantly false” statements regarding Haryana’s water supply to Delhi. Citing Haryana’s affidavit, the LG’s office asserted that Delhi’s water supply has consistently exceeded 1,050 cusecs daily, debunking claims of inadequate provision. Furthermore, an official from the Upper Yamuna River Board confirmed the accuracy of Haryana’s statements after inspecting key sites like Munak, Kakroi, and Bawana.

According to the LG’s office, the Delhi Jal Board’s (DJB) own data supports the claim that the city’s seven water treatment plants, which rely on the canal, are producing above their designed capacity. The affidavit also pointed to significant inefficiencies within Delhi’s water distribution system, highlighting a loss rate that has surged from 40% in 2018-19 to 58% in 2022-23. This indicates that over half of the treated water is being lost due to internal distribution failures. Addressing Atishi’s assertion that the canal’s maintenance is Haryana’s responsibility, the LG’s office clarified that such tasks are undertaken at the behest and expense of the Delhi government. Over the past decade, the Delhi government has not proactively addressed the canal’s maintenance issues, including failing to dispatch engineers for inspections. Despite the well-known presence of a large-scale water mafia in Delhi, the DJB has not taken adequate legal measures or filed complaints with the police. The LG’s office underscored this negligence, noting that even sting operations by news channels have documented the mafia’s activities.