Amid Delhi’s ongoing water crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government reversed its stance today, informing the Supreme Court that it lacked excess water to spare for the national capital. This development followed an earlier assertion by the hill state that it had released water for Delhi, albeit contingent on passing through Haryana.
In response, a bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale directed the Delhi government to approach the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) for water supply. The apex court instructed Delhi to submit an application to the UYRB by 5 pm, requesting water supply on humanitarian grounds.
The Himachal Chief Minister, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, had initially announced on Wednesday that the state had indeed released water for Delhi, emphasizing their readiness to provide it without conditions.
However, today, the Himachal Pradesh government informed the court that it did not possess a surplus of 136 cusecs of water as previously claimed, retracting its earlier statement. The state’s counsel clarified that the surplus water mentioned was residual from irrigation and natural river flow.
The court expressed strong dissatisfaction and cautioned the state government about potential contempt proceedings, even suggesting summoning the Chief Secretary. Subsequently, the government’s counsel apologized and committed to filing an affidavit to correct their earlier statements.
Recognizing the complexity of inter-state water sharing, the bench highlighted that technical decisions should be deferred to bodies established through mutual agreements, such as the 1994 memorandum that constituted the Upper Yamuna River Board.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court directed Delhi to swiftly submit its application to the UYRB, which would convene a meeting promptly to address the water supply issue for the national capital.