Shimla, June 13
Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar expressed shock and embarrassment over the state government’s reversal on its commitment to release water to Delhi, currently facing a severe water shortage. He daid that the Himachal Pradesh government had initially assured the Supreme Court of providing 137 cusecs of water to the national capital, a promise that brought relief to Delhi’s residents. However, the government retracted its assurance just two days later, citing a lack of surplus water.
Kumar criticized this abrupt change, calling it irresponsible and unprofessional. He emphasized that the state government should have conducted a thorough assessment before making any commitments to the Supreme Court. Filing an affidavit to promise water and then withdrawing it not only damages credibility but also appears immature and irresponsible.
The Supreme Court’s vacation bench has since intervened, ordering Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to release 137 cusecs of water to Delhi. This directive highlights the severity of Delhi’s water crisis and the need for cooperative federalism in addressing such issues.
Also read: Delhi water crisis: Apex court directs Himachal govt to release water
Current Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has acknowledged the blunder and stated that the government will take action regarding the premature affidavit that led to this confusion. He assured that steps would be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur, and the interests of all states involved would be balanced more carefully in future dealings.
Shanta Kumar urged the Himachal Pradesh government to provide at least some water to Delhi if the full commitment could not be met. He pointed out that the monsoon season is imminent, which should alleviate the water shortage. Additionally, he reminded the state government of the significant number of Himachali residents in Delhi, who are equally entitled to their home state’s resources.
