Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122757860400.htm

New Delhi

Malhotra asks Sheila to convene States’ meeting on water

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the high level of ammonia in the Yamuna that has made the Delhi Jal Board shut down the Chandrawal and Wazirabad water treatment plants leading to an acute scarcity of water, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijay Kumar Malhotra has asked Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to immediately hold a meeting with her counterparts in neighbouring Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

In a letter to Ms. Dikshit, he has demanded that she press for implementation of the 1994 water agreement so that Delhi can get its share of pollution-free water.

Stating that as per a direction of the Delhi High Court in 1994, under the leadership of Union Water Resources Minister an agreement was signed by the four states for allocating a proper share of water to Delhi and the Delhi Government was directed to get the Munak Canal constructed for carrying this water, Prof. Malhotra said it was a matter of concern that even 13 years later the canal had still not been completed.

Raw water

The BJP leader said very often the Haryana Government also reduces the quantity of raw water released at Tajewala and even the water being sent to Delhi gets polluted and contaminated due to the industrial units in that State. “The net result is that Delhiites are starved of drinking water. Almost one-third of Delhi is devoid of potable water,” he added.

Even when it comes to ground water, he said, the water level was going down at a rapid pace. As for the Yamuna, Prof. Malhotra said despite Rs.1,800 crore having been spent on its cleaning, the river continues to flow like a dirty drain.