Haryana denies DJB allegations of poor supply

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Friday strongly refuted the allegation of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) that the depletion of Wazirabad pond level was because of the shortfall in supplies by Haryana.
A spokesman of the state government stated that the pond level had depleted because of unauthorised lifting of water from Wazirabad pond by Delhi Jal Board through Sangam pump house for Bhagirathi treatment plant.
The spokesman clarified that Haryana had been releasing 600 cusecs of water through Munak Escape since March 16 this year and the Wazirabad pond level had been maintained at its designated level till March 28.
Haryana has increased supply from Munak Escape from 600 cusecs to 700 cusecs. But since DJB continued unauthorised lifting from Wazirabad pond, the water level further receded.
Haryana officers inspected Wazirabad pond and protested against unauthorised lifting of water from the pond through Sangam pump house. A protest note had been sent on March 30, the spokesman stated in a rejoinder to the allegations made by the DJB.
He said that the flow of river Yamuna as also the inflows into Gobind Sagar were reduced since last week and were nearly 55 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.
With a meagre Yamuna flow, most of the water was being diverted to Delhi to meet the drinking water requirements of Delhi, said the spokesman adding that practically nothing was left for Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in Western Yamuna Canal (WJC) and Eastern Yamuna canal areas.
Drinking water requirements several areas in Haryana, particularly of southern areas of the state as also part of requirement of Delhi, are being met by diverting Bhakra waters, the availability of which was also low, explained the spokesman stressing there was also capacity constraint for diversion of Bhakra waters to Yamuna areas because of non-completion of the Punjab portion of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.