The Supreme Court on Monday asked why a joint meeting cannot be held between Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi government and a non-adversarial approach be taken to solve the water crisis faced by the national capital. The top court directed an urgent meeting of Upper Yamuna River Board on June 5 to address the issues so that the problem of scarcity of water in Delhi can be properly addressed.
The vacation bench further directed the matter to be listed on Thursday.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Delhi government. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for Haryana and Centre.
Counsel appearing for Himachal Pradesh said that they are willing to provide Delhi the required water. SG Mehta however said that Himachal will have to give numbers on the surplus water it claims to have to Yammuna board before the water is allowed by Haryana through the Wazirabad barrage.
Mehta told the top court that numbers suggest that if 100 liters comes to Delhi, the residents get 48 liters, whereas 52 liters of water is wasted in leakage, tanker mafia and theft by industries.
