Delhi-Haryana Yamuna Water Dispute Intensifies Amid Assembly Polls

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As Delhi heads into the final stretch of its high-stakes February 5 Assembly elections, the long-standing water dispute between Delhi and Haryana has once again taken center stage. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP-led Haryana government of “poisoning” the Yamuna River, an allegation that escalated the political battle between the two neighboring states.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi took the matter further, labeling Haryana’s actions as “water terrorism.” In a letter to the Election Commission on Tuesday, she claimed that untreated sewage and industrial waste from Haryana had significantly raised ammonia levels in the water flowing into Delhi. “The ammonia levels have risen over 7 ppm in the last two days, which is 700% beyond the treatable limit,” Atishi alleged, citing a report from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

Haryana Responds: “An Insult to Our Land”

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini demanded an apology from Kejriwal, threatening to file a defamation suit if the accusations were not withdrawn. “Kejriwal has insulted the land where he was born. The people of Haryana revere the Yamuna as a holy river—why would they poison it?” Saini retorted.

Decades-Old Battle

The dispute over the Yamuna’s waters dates back to the early 1990s, shortly after Delhi’s Legislative Assembly was re-established in 1993. Since then, the conflict has unfolded through multiple political and legal battles, often flaring up during crises such as water shortages or floods.

Key Legal Milestones:

  • 1994 MoU: The dispute stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 1994 by five states—Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh—to allocate Yamuna water.
  • 1995 Supreme Court Ruling: The Court directed Haryana to ensure Delhi received sufficient water for domestic use, particularly during critical summer months.
  • 1996 Contempt Cases: The Supreme Court reaffirmed Delhi’s right to its share of water and ordered Haryana not to obstruct supply.
  • 2018 Escalation: Delhi alleged that Haryana was providing only one-third of its share of water. The Supreme Court directed the chief secretaries of both states to resolve the issue urgently.
  • 2021 Accusations: The DJB accused Haryana of violating the 1996 ruling by reducing water supply, while Haryana blamed Delhi’s internal mismanagement for the crisis.

Recent Developments

The dispute took a new turn in July 2023 when severe floods hit Delhi. The AAP government accused Haryana of deliberately releasing excess water from the Hathnikund Barrage to inundate the national capital. This was in stark contrast to previous disputes, which had primarily revolved around water shortages.

In June 2024, Delhi’s water minister Atishi staged an indefinite hunger strike, accusing Haryana of withholding Delhi’s rightful share of Yamuna water. Her protest lasted five days, ending due to health concerns, but the incident added to the already simmering tensions.

Political and Environmental Implications

The current round of accusations highlights both the political and environmental dimensions of the Yamuna dispute:

  • Political Weaponization: The timing of the allegations, coinciding with Delhi’s election season, underscores how deeply the water dispute is intertwined with political narratives.
  • Environmental Concerns: Experts warn that untreated industrial waste and sewage in the Yamuna pose severe environmental and public health risks, affecting not just Delhi but all downstream users of the river.

Way Forward

The decades-old Yamuna dispute remains unresolved despite multiple court interventions and political negotiations. With Delhi and Haryana trading blame, experts emphasize the need for a collaborative, long-term strategy that prioritizes sustainable water management and pollution control.

As election campaigns intensify, the Yamuna water dispute continues to serve as a flashpoint, reflecting the larger challenges of inter-state resource sharing in India. Whether this latest flare-up leads to constructive dialogue or remains mired in political posturing remains to be seen.

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