New Delhi faces water crisis, Kejriwal requests Modi to release adequate water

Expressing apprehension that a water crisis was "imminent" in some areas of New Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to release the water required to be maintained in the Wazirabad Pond. In the letter, he said the water in the Yamuna will likely deplete or dry up in the middle of March.

Kejriwal, who also heads Delhi Jal Board (DJB), said about one-third of the products intended for the NDMC and Central Delhi command area was likely to get affected due to the "reluctance" of Haryana to keep the Wazirabad Pond full. He said this will result in curtailment of supply to the most important areas of Delhi due to the sub-optimal operation of water treatment plants at Chandrawal and Wazirabad.

"In this period, Haryana is required to convey water from Tajewala to Delhi via the alternative route of CLC (carrier-lined channel) and DSB (Delhi Sub-Branch canal). The additional 120 cusecs of water is only about 5 per cent of 2400 cusec water or more which is available at Tajewala," Kejriwal said.