Despite payment Haryana has not started repair of sub-branch canal: DJB to HC
The Delhi Jal Board has told the high court that despite paying Rs 28.16 crore to Haryana for repairing the old sub-branch canal, which carries water to the national capital, the neighbouring state is yet to start the work.
The submission was made in an affidavit placed before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar, which on March 13 had directed the states of Haryana and Delhi to take steps to immediately carry out the repairs.
In the affidavit filed through advocate Sumeet Pushkarna, DJB said it had sent two cheques of Rs 10 crore and Rs 18.16 crore to Haryana in March after the court's order, however, they have not been encashed.
The civic body said Haryana has not yet signed the memorandum of understanding sent to it regarding the repair work.
Haryana, too, filed an affidavit in which it claimed to have supplied additional raw water to Delhi from January 1997 to June 2015, for which it had raised a bill of Rs 69.62 crore. However, the DJB only paid Rs 7.7 crore, it said.
It said it has been supplying water to Delhi during the lean months at the cost of people of its state and added that DJB will have to manage its affairs regarding water supply to residents of the national capital.
The affidavits were filed after a PIL moved by advocate S B Tripathi said the population in Delhi was increasing each day, but the raw water available to the city was same or even decreasing.
Tripathi also moved a fresh application seeking directions to DJB and Haryana to carry out 100 per cent concrete lining of the old Delhi Sub-Branch (DSB) canal, similar to Munak canal, to reduce seepage of water.
The plea claimed that presently due to seepage, 50 per cent of the 330 cusec water released into DSB canal by Haryana is lost and this wastage can be brought down to 5 per cent by concrete lining.
It said the work can be carried out during monsoons when there is sufficient water available in Yamuna river and DSB canal can be shut for repairs.
The court had asked the Haryana government to ensure it is releasing the entire quantity of water it is required to according to the undertaking given to the court and earlier orders.
According to the undertaking and earlier court orders, Haryana has to release 719 cusecs of water per day into Munak canal and 330 cusecs per day in DSB canal. PTI
