Union Water Resources Minister, Harish Rawat with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Hema Ram Choudhary, Haryana Irrigation Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, UP Irrigation Minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, Himachal Pradesh Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania, at the 5th meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee in New Delhi on Tuesday.
New Delhi / Jalandhar, May 28, 2013; Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that Haryana is supplying more water to Delhi than its legitimate share as per 1994 MoU.
Speaking at the 5th meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee in New Delhi today, Hooda said that the Carrier Lined Channel has been completed by Haryana. However, Delhi must plug the unauthorised cut, so that Carrier Lined Channel may become operational.
The meeting was presided over by the Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat and was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Haryana Irrigation Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Hema Ram Choudhary, UP Irrigation Minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, Himachal Pradesh Power Minister, Sujan Singh Pathania, besides senior officers from the Union Water Resources Ministry and the States.
Hooda complimented Rawat for launching the new National Water Policy and expressed hope that the construction of upstream dams on Yamuna river at Lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau would now be fast-tracked. On the situation of water availability in Haryana, Hooda said that the State has only 14 MAF of water as compared to the requirement of 36 MAF. Haryana is getting much less water from Yamuna at Tajewala than the water supply to Delhi despite the fact that during the lean period Delhi’s share is much less as compared to Haryana’s share. There is also decline in the contribution of water from Sahibi, Krishnavati and Dohan rivers, tributaries of Yamuna, because of the construction of check dams by Rajasthan in the catchment areas of these rivers. This has resulted in acute problem of water in southern Haryana.
Haryana Chief Minister said that Haryana has always been liberal in helping Delhi in respect of drinking water. Recently, there was a breach in the Upper Ganga Canal, which feeds Sonia Vihar Treatment Plant. Haryana immediately diverted water to Delhi from its own share without waiting for formal procedure. On the issue of 80 MGD of water being claimed by Delhi, Hooda said that it is actually a non-issue and Haryana does not support the decision to set up a GoM on this issue. He urged the Upper Yamuna Review Committee to attend to all the water related issues of Yamuna basin States.
Hooda supported the proposal of Rawat regarding expediting the construction of storage projects at Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi. On the issue of water problems with UP and Rajasthan Hooda said that these will be sorted out in meetings with these States.
Rawat emphasised in the meeting that instructions of the Supreme Court must be followed and commitments must be fulfilled in a time bound manner. He asked Delhi to keep UP and Haryana informed about the position of treatment polluted Yamuna water.
Union Water Resources Minister, Harish Rawat with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Haryana Irrigation Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, UP Irrigation Minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav at the 5th meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee in New Delhi on Tuesday.