SC asks Delhi, Haryana to resolve Munak Canal water dispute at earliest

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed off a petition filed by the Government of NCT Delhi with regard to the maintenance of regular water supply from the Munak Canal in neighbouring Haryana after the latter's counsel informed the apex court that water supply to the national capital has almost been resolved.

Passing its order on the petition, the Supreme Court bench hearing it said that both the governments of Delhi and Haryana can sit down together and resolve the remaining minor issues themselves, but at the same time said that either of the two governments was free to approach the apex court again should the problem persist.

Earlier this week, Delhi's Water Resources Minister Kapil Mishra had informed the concerned authorities that the damage to the Munak Canal by Jat community protesters in Haryana was a scary development, and added that it would take between ten to 15 days for the capital to get normal water supply restored.

He said that the entire 150-feet stretch of the Munak Canal had been damaged, and this had forced the Delhi Government to appeal to its citizens to use water sparingly.

The damage was such that the Haryana Government had call in the army to safeguard the canal from further damage.

Equipment to operate the canal was damaged last week by protesters seeking reservations for the Jat community. In the last three days, many parts of Delhi have experienced severe shortage in water supply.

Engineers of the Delhi Jal Board as well as their counterparts in Haryana were working to repair the damaged equipment at Munak Canal, said Mishra, adding that partial water supply has been restored in north Delhi, west Delhi and parts of central

"I commend the Army for protecting those doing the repair work. Till the time Munak Canal is totally repaired, supply of water to Delhi will be limited," said the minister.

Delhi has four water treatment plants - Wazirabad, Chandrawal, Nangloi and Okhla.