Haryana government has decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, urging it to review its order on the contempt petition asking the state to immediately start supplying 125 cusecs of Bhakra water to Delhi.

In 2000, Supreme Court had asked Haryana government to supply water to Delhi. But the state filed an application in the matter, saying that it too was facing water shortage. Last year, Delhi filed a contempt plea against Haryana’s plea, on which the apex court gave its order three days ago.

Talking to The Indian Express, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Irrigation R N Prasher said that abiding by the SC order, Haryana government has started supplying 125 cusecs of water to Delhi from yesterday. He said Haryana was already supplying 60 cusecs of water to Delhi before the order, but now the additional 65 cusecs of water too was being supplied. The decision to supply the entire 125 cusecs of water was taken after a meeting of the Irrigation Department officials with CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda yesterday.

Prasher said although the Supreme Court had decided on the contempt petition, it was still to decide on the Haryana's interim application that following under Article 262 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court will not go into water disputes between states. Prasher said since only Haryana,Punjab and Rajasthan were the original party to the water agreement, a third state like Delhi was not entitled to get any water under the original agreement.

“The Supreme Court has not rejected our plea, but it was yet to hold a hearing on the matter,'' said Prasher. Expressing concern at the acute water shortage in Haryana, Prasher said Haryana was already supplying 825 cusecs of water to Delhi at Hathini Kund Barrage,Yamunanagar.

... contd.