Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 1: As tensions rose over river water sharing, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday assured citizens that her government would not allow a water crisis to unfold in the national capital, even as the BJP accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-ruled Punjab of playing 'dirty politics.'
“Let me assure everyone that there will be no water crisis. We are working to ensure that people are not inconvenienced,” said CM Gupta, responding to concerns that Punjab may be attempting to block water supply to Haryana and Delhi.
The confrontation intensified after Delhi water minister Parvesh Verma alleged that the Punjab government, led by AAP, was deliberately disrupting water flow to settle political scores following its electoral loss in Delhi.
"The Punjab government has resorted to dirty politics by stopping water supply to Haryana and Delhi," Verma said in a post on X. “After losing in Delhi, they now want to create a water crisis. But we are working round the clock to ensure clean water reaches every home.”
Verma warned the AAP government in Punjab to refrain from such actions, stating, “Stop this dirty politics or be ready to face expulsion from Punjab as well.”
In a counterattack, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of conspiring to deprive Punjab of its fair share of water by allegedly misusing power in Haryana and at the Centre. He denied reports claiming that Punjab had promised to supply water to Haryana, stating that he gave no such assurance to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini.
Mann highlighted that water distribution by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is pre-allocated annually, with Punjab receiving 5.512 MAF, Haryana 2.987 MAF, and Rajasthan 3.318 MAF. He said Haryana exhausted its share by March 31, which led to the ongoing crisis.
Nevertheless, Mann said Punjab, in a humanitarian gesture, has been releasing 4,000 cusecs of water daily to Haryana since April 6. He argued that Haryana’s request for 2.5 times more water than its estimated requirement of 1,700 cusecs was unreasonable.
With the row escalating, all eyes are now on the Centre and BBMB to intervene and ensure an equitable and timely resolution to the inter-state dispute.