Exposing the false statements of Lieutenant Governor (LG) Shri V.K. Saxena regarding water shortage in Delhi amid the water crisis, Delhi’s Water Minister Ms. Atishi on Tuesday said that according to the LG Sahab’s statement, adequate water is coming from Haryana, Munak canal needs repairs, and water is being filled from tankers. According to LG Sahab, there is a shortage of water due to these three reasons. Now let us look at these three things one by one.
She stated that while the LG Sahab is saying that Haryana is sending adequate water to Delhi, the Haryana government itself has admitted in their affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court that it is sending less water to Delhi, that is 985 cusecs of water. So, LG’s first lie has been exposed.
Ms. Atishi mentioned, “The second thing that the LG Sahab is saying is that it is the fault of the Delhi government, they do not maintain the Munak canal. It is the fault of the Delhi government that there is leakage in the Munak canal. Let me tell the LG Sahab that the maintenance of the Munak canal, from its starting point at Munak, from where the water is released from CLC (carrier line channel) and DSB (Delhi sub-branch), and till it reaches the Haiderpur Water Treatment plant, the responsibility of maintenance of both these channels is 100% in the hands of the Haryana Irrigation Department. The Delhi government pays for the water it takes from the Haryana government. The maintenance of the Munak canal, its security, its repair, everything is in the hands of the Haryana Irrigation Department.”
“So, the LG’s second lie has also been exposed that this is not the fault of the Delhi Government. The fault lies with the Haryana Irrigation Department. The maintenance of Munak Canal comes under the Haryana government. If there is any repair work to be done there, then the Haryana government should get it done,” She said.
Delhi’s water minister further stated that thirdly, the LG Sahab is saying that water is being stolen from tankers. So, if less water is coming at the Bawana contact point itself, the entry point from where water comes to Delhi, that means this water is being filled in tankers in Haryana. Now do you expect ministers from the Delhi government to stop the tankers in Haryana?
“I want to say this to the LG that you are not the BJP’s LG, you are Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor. It is your responsibility to find solutions to the problems of the people of Delhi. If Haryana is giving less water to Delhi, then you should talk to the Chief Minister of Haryana. If the Haryana Irrigation Department is not repairing the Munak Canal, then you should talk to them. If illegal tankers are being filled in Haryana, you should intervene with Haryana Police and get it sorted.” She added.
Taking potshots at the BJP and LG, Ms. Atishi stated that unfortunately, the LG has only one job. Just like the BJP holds a press conference and puts every problem on the head of the Delhi government, the LG Sahab also tries to do the same. No matter who makes a mistake, he puts the responsibility for that mistake on the head of the Delhi government.
She said that if you are saying, “If you are saying that illegal tankers are being filled inside Delhi and you know about it, then what are you doing as the Head of Delhi Police? Send the police, stop the tankers, and arrest those who are filling the water illegally. It is the responsibility of the police to stop any illegal activity. If the LG Sahab knows about it, even the location, then it means that it is happening with his blessings only if it is happening in Delhi.”
“The LG Sahab will have to answer why he hates the people of Delhi so much that let alone talking to the Haryana government, he is not even ready to use Delhi Police for the rights of the people of Delhi,” Ms. Atishi concluded.
