Delhi faces dual crisis : Frequent power cuts during heatwave and water shortage

Delhi faces dual crisis as India’s capital city is currently enduring a severe heatwave, with temperatures reaching above 50 degrees Celsius. This extreme weather has been compounded by a critical water shortage, adding to the distress of the city’s residents.

The water shortage has affected a broad range of areas, from the NDMC region to Patel Nagar, and from North Delhi to South Delhi. Some of the hardest-hit areas include the Sanjay Camp area in Chanakyapuri and Geeta Colony in East Delhi. The water shortage has also extended to Mehrauli and Chattarpur, exacerbating the difficulties faced by residents amidst the ongoing heatwave.

Delhi Government’s Response

In response to the crisis, the Delhi government has petitioned the Supreme Court for an increased water allocation from neighboring states such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. This plea comes as the city grapples with a severe water shortage.

The AAP government has unveiled a new strategy to combat the escalating water crisis. MLA Atishi announced on Thursday the establishment of a central water tanker control room and the deployment of rapid response teams across all 11 Delhi Jal Board zones to effectively handle water-related emergencies.

To curb water misuse, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee will deploy teams to oversee car washing facilities, while the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will send teams to monitor construction sites. The Delhi Jal Board had previously deployed enforcement teams to prevent water wastage in activities such as car washing.

The Delhi government attributes the current water crisis primarily to Haryana’s failure to release raw water from the Yamuna river to Delhi. The city heavily relies on Yamuna water to meet its needs. The raw water is directed to Wazirabad and then distributed to three water treatment plants located in Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Okhla.

Atishi stated, “We are dispatching water tankers to areas experiencing a water supply shortage. We are now establishing a central water tanker war room. Any Delhi resident in need of a water tanker should dial 1916. Water tankers will be dispatched to areas reported to have a water supply shortage.”

Political Controversy

Virendra Sachdeva, the Delhi BJP president, accused the AAP government of corruption on Thursday, alleging that the city’s residents were facing a water crisis as a result. He claimed that water was being wasted and stolen, and the Delhi government had utterly failed to prevent this wastage and theft. He criticized the imposition of a Rs 2000 fine.

Sachdeva disputed water minister Atishi’s claims that the Haryana government was not supplying Delhi with water, accusing her of concealing the truth. He stated that Delhi government officials from the flood department and Jal Board had recently visited Hathini Kund Barrage, where Haryana government officials were also present.

He added that after inspecting the water measurement system, the officials from the flood department and Jal Board returned satisfied because the Haryana government was supplying more water to Delhi than promised. According to Sachdeva, Haryana is obligated to provide Delhi with 719 cusecs of water under an agreement, but it is actually supplying 1,049 cusecs daily. He questioned the reason for water cuts in Delhi when it is receiving more water than promised.

Kejriwal pointed to the capital’s water crisis, stating, “The demand for water supply has surged due to the heatwave. There has been a reduction in the water supply to Delhi from neighbouring states. This means that the demand is high and the shortage is minimal.”

Water Usage Restrictions

The use of drinking water from the Delhi Jal Board for washing cars is prohibited. Jal Board water cannot be used at construction sites or for any commercial purposes. The use of pipes to wash cars is banned in Delhi. Teams will monitor and address issues with overflowing water tanks. Illegal water connections at construction sites or commercial properties will be disconnected. Areas that currently receive water twice a day will have their supply reduced to once every 24 hours.

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