The water crisis in Delhi has reached alarming levels, with residents across various areas seen frantically scrambling to fill their buckets from water tankers. The desperate scenes include people carrying pipes and even climbing onto the tankers to ensure they get their share of water.
Visuals from Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area vividly capture the desperation, with people rushing towards the water tankers, some even jumping queues to secure their vessels. This chaotic scenario underscores the severity of the water crisis affecting many parts of the national capital.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Delhi government has moved the Supreme Court, seeking a directive for Haryana to increase its water supply to Delhi. Sources reported on May 31 that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has highlighted the significant rise in water demand due to the ongoing heatwave.
The petition filed in the Supreme Court by the Delhi government emphasizes the urgent need for additional water amid soaring temperatures. The government has requested Haryana to release extra water for a month to alleviate the crisis.
Delhi Minister Atishi has also written to the central government, alleging that Haryana has failed to release the necessary amount of water. In her letter to Union Water Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Atishi stressed the critical dependency of Delhi on the Yamuna river for its water needs.
"Delhi is heavily dependent on water from the Yamuna river for its day-to-day demand for water. However, in the last few days, there has been a drastic dip in the water levels at the Wazirabad Barrage as Haryana is not releasing the required amount of water in the Yamuna river," Atishi stated in her letter.
She further highlighted the exacerbating factor of extreme heat, noting, "Moreover, the temperature in Delhi has touched almost 50 degrees. This has further intensified the demand for water."
The severe water shortage has forced residents to rely on water tankers, leading to chaotic scenes as people compete for access to this essential resource. The situation has become untenable, with many households struggling to meet their daily water needs.
The Delhi government's appeal to the Supreme Court and the central government underscores the urgency of the situation. The AAP administration's plea reflects the dire need for a collaborative solution to address the water crisis and ensure adequate supply to the city.
As Delhi grapples with an intense water shortage amidst sweltering heat, the government's efforts to secure additional water from Haryana highlight the critical need for regional cooperation. The distressing visuals from Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area serve as a stark reminder of the urgency to resolve the water crisis and provide relief to the capital's residents.