Haryana and Rajasthan in water row

Sukhbir Siwach / TNN / Mar 26, 2008, 03:36 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

In a fresh water row, Haryana said ibly that Rajasthan has willy-nilly stopped flow of water from three seasonal rivers coming into the state.

CHANDIGARH: After the bitter fight for water between Punjab and Haryana, the battle has now spilled over to Rajasthan.
In a fresh water row, Haryana on Tuesday said in the Assembly that Rajasthan has willy-nilly stopped flow of water from three seasonal rivers �� the Sahibi, the Krishnawati and the Dohan �� coming into the state. Though Rajasthan officials were prompt in denying the charge, Haryana insisted the neighbouring state's action had aggravated the drinking water problem in large swathes of its land.
Haryana irrigation and public works minister Ajay Singh Yadav said the "blockage" by Rajasthan had adversely affected water levels in Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Rewari and Mahendergarh.In many places the ground water level had gone down by as much as 700 feet. At Nangal Chaudhary, the levels had depleted by a disturbing 1,200 feet.
"The number of check dams erected by Rajasthan on rivers that flow into Haryana has increased from 45 to 83 in the last six decades," the minister said. Yadav went on to assure the Assembly that the state would work hard to get its fair share from Rajasthan. "The Yamuna River Board has set up a committee to find out the solution," he added.

The fight, though, is old. Ved Prakash Vidrohi, president of Gramin Bharat, said it was after the Sahibi river-triggered floods of 1977 that Rajasthan began construction of the check dams. In fact, Haryana unit of the All India Krishak Khat Mazdoor Sangathan has been holding panchayats for long over the issue.
The organization has demanded a "robust mechanism" to ensure uninterrupted flow of water from Rajasthan into Rewari and Mahendragarh districts of Haryana.

However, Rajasthan has its own side of the story. SC Maharishi, additional chief engineer, Rajasthan, said no new barrages or check dams had been constructed by the state on rivers flowing into Haryana. "We have not violated any procedure or rules," he stressed, adding, "every state tries to develop resources to preserve its natural water.
Even Haryana has constructed a barrage on the Sahibi River."
He said Rajasthan would present its version in the Yamuna River Board meeting.

About the Author

Sukhbir Siwach

Sukhbir Siwach is Special Correspondent at The Times of India, Chandigarh, and covers news on Haryana. Sukhbir prefers to focus on investigative stories, and has recently won the Laadli award given by United Nations Population Fund. Sukhbir has a diverse portfolio but especially likes writing on sensitive social issues including controversial decisions by the khaps and the problem of skewed sex ratios in Haryana. His hobbies include reading, writing, sports and meeting people.

End of Article