Is Delhi BJP Right to Seek LG's Help in Punjab's Water Dispute?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi BJP pushes for action against Punjab's water supply cuts.
- High Court emphasizes cooperation among states for water resources.
- Political tensions escalate as accusations fly between parties.
- The water supply situation remains a critical concern for Delhi residents.
- Importance of responsible water management highlighted.
New Delhi, May 6 (NationPress) - On a day when the Punjab and Haryana High Court expressed concern regarding the ongoing water conflict between Punjab and Haryana, the Delhi BJP convened a meeting with Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena. They presented a memorandum addressing the artificial water crisis purportedly created by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Bhagwant Singh Mann, impacting the residents of Delhi.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva along with Delhi MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogendra Chandolia, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Praveen Khandelwal, and Bansuri Swaraj sought the LG's immediate intervention to avert a situation where the city’s water resources could dwindle due to decreased raw water supply.
The memorandum indicated that the AAP government in Punjab has declared a reduction in water supply from the Bhakra Canal, which flows into Haryana, thus creating a fabricated water shortage for Delhi.
Previously, the High Court commented on Punjab’s alleged decision to cut water supply to Haryana, noting that while India has enacted stringent measures against Pakistan by halting river waters, states within India should refrain from similar actions against each other.
“We are taking such action against our enemy nation. Let’s not do this among ourselves,” the High Court remarked, alluding to India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The tension surrounding river water allocation escalated further when Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma accused AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of retaliating against Delhi citizens for his party's electoral loss by instructing the Punjab government to limit water supply to both Haryana and Delhi.
In response, AAP leader and former Delhi CM Atishi sharply criticized Verma, urging him to resign if he could not ensure water supply for the populace after two months of being in office.
“Delhi’s water comes from the Yamuna and the Ganga, neither of which traverse Punjab, hence there’s no basis for blaming Punjab for halting Delhi’s water supply,” she stated.
Earlier, the memorandum submitted to the LG by the Delhi BJP claimed that there was currently no shortage of water in the Bhakra Dam Canal; however, for politically charged reasons, the Punjab AAP government had announced a significant cut in the water supply.