The ongoing water dispute between Delhi and Haryana left the Capital parched for a second day,with two of the citys major water treatment plants (WTPs) remaining shut since Monday morning as a result of high levels of ammonia in the Yamuna. There was no water supply on Tuesday in Central,North,Northwest,several parts of West Delhi and a few areas of South Delhi,as well as areas under the NDMC and the Cantonment Board,due to closure of the Wazirabad and Chandrawal WTPs. The level of ammonia in the riverwater continued to remain above the permissible limit of 0.6 parts per million (ppm). The ammonia level recorded at 6 pm on Tuesday was 1.1 ppm. Officials claim Haryanas delay in commissioning a parallel concrete channel for the passage of water between the two states is the reason behind the high levels of pollution. The construction of the concrete canal proposed in 2003 between Munak on the Haryana border and Haiderpur in Delhi is a key project planned by the Delhi government,aimed at augmenting the citys water supply by 80 million gallons a day (MGD). Since 2009,Haryana has refused to share 50 per cent of the water otherwise lost to seepage and evaporation in transit through the open river channel with Delhi. Water-sharing has become a national issue now,but Haryana can at least commission the canal to resolve the pollution issue that results from many industries being situated on the riverbank, a senior Delhi Jal Board official said. The water-sharing issue was taken up with the Prime Ministers Office last year,and a Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram was formed last month to resolve the matter. DJB Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi said three main WTPs Chandrawal,Wazirabad and Haiderpur would get clean raw water supply if the canal is commissioned. At least 300 metres of the canals last leg in Delhi is left. Haryana has demanded Rs 160 crore more from Delhi,for which we sought a clarification. But there has been no response so far, Negi said. The DJB has also attributed the increase in ammonia levels to the discharge of industrial and domestic waste in the river by Haryana. In recent years,the matter had been taken up with the Environment department of Haryana government by the Central Pollution Control Board and other authorities,but no action has been taken by Haryana so far. We are expecting an effective response this time so the issue of pollution doesnt come up in future, Negi said. Around 900 cusecs of water has been released downstream of Wazirabad to dilute the pollution load. Continuous monitoring has indicated that the ammonia levels have come down to 0.3 ppm 5 km upstream of Wazirabad, the official said. Supply is likely to be resumed by Wednesday.
