Delhi Minister accuses Punjab govt of 'dirty politics' over water supply

New Delhi: The BJP government in Delhi has accused the AAP-led Punjab government of engaging in "dirty politics" by allegedly halting water supply to Delhi, intensifying the ongoing dispute over river water sharing between Haryana and Punjab.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann countered these claims, accusing the BJP of pressuring Punjab through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to fulfil Haryana's demands. Mann asserted that Haryana had already exhausted its allocated water share by March.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma in a post on X accused the AAP-ruled Punjab government of indulging in "dirty politics" by allegedly stopping Yamuna water to Haryana and Delhi.

"The Punjab government has resorted to dirty politics by stopping the water supply to Haryana and Delhi. After losing in Delhi, now they want to create a water crisis in Delhi," Verma said in his post.

However, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials said that as of Thursday, water supply is maintained at normal.

"We are working day and night to provide clean water to every household in Delhi, and now the Punjab government wants to take revenge on the people of Delhi in this way. Stop this dirty politics, or else you will be expelled from Punjab as well," Verma said.

Although there is no direct link between the Yamuna River to Punjab as it originates from the Yamunotri glacier in Uttarakhand and ends in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

According to DJB officials, Haryana receives some raw water via the Narwana canal, which is fed by the Bhakra Nangal dam. This dam plays a significant role in regulating water supply across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.

"Some of this water is further transferred to the Munak canal, which originates from Haryana and ends in Haiderpur, Delhi. As of now, the raw water supply is maintained at normal," a DJB official told PTI.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated that he had informed Mann on April 26 about Punjab officials' reluctance to implement the BBMB Technical Committee's decision to release water to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan.

Saini, referencing his letter to Mann, alleged that instead of addressing the issue, Mann released a video that he claimed misled the public by ignoring the facts.

Previously, the AAP government in Delhi had accused Haryana of halting the Yamuna water supply. The city's water demand typically surges during the summer months.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from AAP regarding the matter.

(inputs from PTI)