Delhi Minister Atishi on Friday urged the BJP to request its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to release spare water to the national capital, which is suffering from a severe water crisis amid the ongoing heat wave.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal echoed Atishi’s sentiments, stating that the BJP should focus on urging its party-run governments in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to provide extra water to Delhi until the monsoon arrives.
Delhi is experiencing an acute water shortage, with the AAP government accusing Haryana of not releasing Delhi’s share of water. The BJP, however, has blamed the AAP government for the crisis, asserting that Haryana is supplying 1,049 cusecs of water from the Yamuna, exceeding the agreed-upon amount.
In a virtual press conference, Atishi noted that the BJP held a protest outside the Delhi Secretariat over the water shortage issue.
“Delhi is struggling with severe heat and water shortages. The BJP is engaging in dirty politics at this time. I want to ask the BJP, when there is a crisis, is this the time for politics? Shouldn’t we come together?” she said.
“Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have BJP governments. This is the time to unite and appeal to your governments in these states to provide extra water to Delhi,” added the city’s water minister.
Atishi emphasized the responsibility to avoid politics in such critical times.
“If you want to give some relief to the people of Delhi, you should ask your governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide extra water for a month until the monsoon arrives,” she said.
Atishi also appealed to the Centre to ensure the release of spare water from either Uttar Pradesh or Haryana to address Delhi’s “unprecedented water crisis.”
In a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on May 30, Atishi mentioned a drastic drop in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage, attributing it to Haryana not releasing the required quantity into the Yamuna.
Chief Minister Kejriwal also supported Atishi in a Hindi post on X.
“Delhi is experiencing unprecedented heat, leading to a water shortage and distress among residents. Yet, even in such a situation, the BJP is engaging in dirty politics,” he said.
“In this emergency, instead of indulging in dirty politics, the BJP should appeal to its own governments in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to provide extra water to Delhi until the monsoon arrives. This is not the time for cheap politics but for working towards providing relief to the people in the nation’s capital.”
(with PTI inputs)
