Amid Delhi’s ongoing water crisis, the Supreme Court has issued directives for Himachal Pradesh to release excess water, notifying Haryana in advance. The Upper Yamuna River Board is assigned to monitor the released water.

The court has instructed the Haryana government to facilitate the water flow from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi. Additionally, the Delhi government has been directed to ensure that there is no wastage of water.

The court's judgment stated: "Since Himachal has no objection, we direct that it transfer 127 cusecs from upstream so that water reaches the Hathnikund barrage and then Delhi via Wazirabad." As and when the State of Himachal Pradesh releases surplus water with prior notice, the State of Haryana shall enable the flow of water from Hathnikund to Wazirabad so that it reaches Delhi without interruption, guaranteeing inhabitants have drinking water."

Himachal Pradesh
Image Source: Water Digest

This decision comes as Delhi faces a severe water shortage coupled with a heatwave. The Delhi government had sought the Supreme Court's urgent intervention to address the crisis.

The petition filed by Delhi's Water Minister Atishi has drawn the attention of the Centre, the BJP-led Haryana, and the Congress-governed Himachal Pradesh to the importance of water access as a fundamental human right essential for survival.

It seeks a directive to the Haryana government for the immediate and continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage, including the full surplus water allocated by Himachal Pradesh for the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

The ruling parties in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh are represented by the AAP and Congress respectively, while Haryana is governed by the BJP.

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