Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma Alleges Punjab's 'Revenge Politics' Amid Water Dispute

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions over water distribution, Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma has accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government of deliberately disrupting water supply to Delhi and Haryana. Verma labeled the actions as "revenge politics," suggesting that Punjab is retaliating for political losses in Delhi.

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

Delhi receives approximately 270 million gallons of water daily from the Bhakra Nangal dam, which is crucial for meeting the city's water demands, especially during the peak summer season. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has assured residents that, as of now, the raw water supply remains normal. A DJB official stated, "Presently, there is no water crisis or shortage in Delhi. We are getting allocated water from Haryana."

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had decided to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, with 496 cusecs allocated for Delhi. However, Punjab refused to comply beyond its voluntary offer of 4,000 cusecs, citing Haryana’s overuse and mismanagement of its share. Punjab's Water Resources Minister Balbir Singh refuted Verma's claims, stating, "It is an absolute white lie. The Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan governments have taken their share of water. Only Punjab's share is left now."

The dispute has prompted the BBMB to move the High Court, accusing Punjab of forcibly taking over the operation and regulation of the Nangal dam and Lohand Control Room water regulation offices through police deployment. The BBMB's petition describes Punjab's actions as "wholly unconstitutional and illegal," emphasizing that such measures interfere with the statutory functioning of the board.