‘Brace for more water shortage’

Delhi is in for another bout of severe water shortage if the rains continue to play truant. Haryana on Saturday warned that further delay in the monsoon would be bad for everyone concerned as the state's own irrigation needs were suffering tremendously, while the demand for drinking water has almost trebled.

"Haryana is, at this point, very hard pressed for water. We are only getting one-tenth of our share of the Yamuna water. The inflow at Tajewala is only one-sixth of our share on certain days, and one-third on other days," said K K Jalan, Principal Secretary and Financial Commissioner to the Haryana government.

The level in the Bhakra Nangal dam is down by 62 feet as compared to last year, officials said.

As of Saturday, the total water inflow to Haryana was less by

at least 28,000 cusecs.

According to figures provided by Haryana government, the water received by the state at Tajewala on July 1 was 3,342 cusecs, as against 19,660 cusecs received on the same day last year.

The total average for the month of July, officials said, was just 7,459 cusecs, down from 22,586 cusecs received at Tajewala for the same period last year.

"Our water share from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is down by 20 per cent this year. Delhi, on the other hand, has a fixed entitlement of 750 cusecs per day. We have been more than honouring this commitment to the Capital by giving it over 1,500 cusecs of water each day. Drinking water is a priority in Haryana too right now. The shortage is so severe that we are able to provide drinking water to our people only four times a week," Jalan said.

He said it was in national interest for the states to accept the grave water situation and not enter into a water dispute.

... contd.

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