Supreme Court Raps Himachal Over U-Turn On Water Sharing, Asks Delhi to Seek Yamuna Board's Help Amid Crisis

As Delhi continues to reel under a severe water crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday took a U-turn and told the Supreme Court that it did not have surplus water to spare for the national capital. This comes a day after the hill state said it had released water for Delhi and the supply needs to pass through Haryana.

Following this, a vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale directed the Delhi government to approach the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) for water supply. The apex court asked the Delhi government to submit an application to the UYRB by 5 pm seeking a supply of water to the national capital on humanitarian grounds.

Himachal U-Turn

This comes a day after Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu told media on Wednesday that the hill state has released water and asked advocates to inform the Supreme Court about this.

“The water we have released, we are ready to give that water. There are no ifs and buts,” he said.

However, the Himachal Pradesh government today told the top court that it does not have a surplus of 136 cusecs of water and withdrew its earlier statement.

The government’s counsel said the surplus water was “unutilised after use of irrigation and part of the natural course of river flow”.

“We could not convey it properly earlier. Our correct statement may come on record. Maybe we made a mistake earlier, but I have been briefed. I will correct and withdraw the earlier statement that flow was obstructed,” he said.

The court took a strong objection to this and warned the state government of warranting contempt action. “We can summon your Chief Secretary,” it said.

Following this, the government’s counsel apologised and said the state would file an affidavit and withdraw their earlier response.

SC Asks Delhi To Approach Yamuna Board

The bench said that sharing of Yamuna water between states is a complex and sensitive issue and this court does not have the technical expertise to decide on it even on an interim basis.

“The issue should be left to be considered by the body constituted with the agreement of parties in the memorandum of understanding dated 1994.

“Since the UYRB has already directed Delhi to submit an application for the supply of water on humanitarian grounds… such an application be made, if not already made, by today by 5 pm, and the board shall convene a meeting tomorrow and take decision in the matter at the earliest,” the bench said.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking a direction to Haryana to release the surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the national capital to mitigate its water crisis.