New Delhi: As the national capital grapples with an acute water shortage, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta conducted a review of the situation on Saturday and instructed officials to work on a war footing to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water. She also spoke to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who assured a minimum supply of 1,000 cusecs through the Munak Canal.
Yamuna Levels Drop, Widening Supply Gap
The review came amid a significant drop in the Yamuna's water levels, which has reduced raw water availability by 80 to 100 million gallons per day (MGD). This decline has put immense pressure on water treatment plants and widened the gap between the peak summer demand of approximately 1,250 MGD and the current supply of 900 to 950 MGD.
Meeting with Officials and Immediate Measures
During the meeting, which was attended by Water Minister Parvesh Verma, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice-Chairperson Satish Upadhyay, and other senior officials, the Chief Minister assessed water availability, plant output, and supply measures. Officials reported that over 980 tankers are making around 6,000 trips daily, with smaller vehicles deployed in congested areas. Additional borewells in Yamuna Khadar have added 10.5 MGD to the supply.
Gupta directed officials to increase tanker deployment where necessary and take strict action against leakages. "Every single drop of water is precious, and wastage will not be accepted," she stated.
Dependence on Neighboring States
Delhi relies on Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for over 85% of its water supply. Against a demand of 1,250 MGD, the city is currently receiving only 900 to 950 MGD due to a sharp drop in Yamuna water levels, which has reduced raw water availability at critical treatment plants, forcing supply cuts across several parts of the city.
"The water level at Wazirabad has fallen from 674.5 feet to around 668 feet, cutting production by 80 to 100 MGD," said Verma. He added that additional raw water is being diverted from the Carrier Line Canal through the twin mains system, while emergency pumping from the riverbed is adding about 40 MGD. Along with 130 MGD diverted from canal systems, these measures have helped sustain operations at the Wazirabad and Chandrawal plants.
"Despite constraints, DJB is maintaining production of about 900 MGD and supplying most households. Teams are working round the clock to manage distribution," Verma further said.
Political Reactions and Complaints
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have criticized the BJP government over the crisis, sharing visuals of residents queuing at tankers and alleging supply of contaminated water. Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav warned of protests if the situation is not addressed.
The Chief Minister noted that 11,055 complaints were received on the DJB helpline in the past week, with over 8,500 resolved, and asked officials to clear the backlog.
Long-Term Solutions
Gupta also outlined long-term measures, including a study by IIT Roorkee on a dedicated pipeline from Haryana, desilting of the Yamuna near Wazirabad, construction of new treatment plants, and more borewells in Yamuna Khadar. Plans are also in place to introduce dual water supply using treated sewage for non-potable use and expand rainwater harvesting, with 75 structures being developed in CM Shri Schools and proposals for 500 new units and revival of 1,000 existing ones.
