NEW DELHI: The talks on sharing of Yamuna waters between four states ended in a deadlock once again on May 7, fuelling Delhi’s apprehensions of an acute water crisis as memory rises.
However, the Center sought to as- sure Delhi that there was no cause of worry and it would continue to get “ad hoc” supply till a final decision was taken.
Water Resources Minister Vidya Charan Shukla, said that Chief Ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had assured him that water supply to Delhi would continue. He said emergency arrangements would be made for the purpose.
Shukla’s official residence was the venue of the talks among Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi namely Mulayam Singh Yadav, Bhajan Lal, Bharion Singh Shekhawat and Maden Lal Khurana, respectively. The talks began late on Friday night and ended at 2:35 am. on Saturday.
Reliable sources said the deadlock arose because of intransigent positions taken by Haryana and UP. There was disagreement over the share of the two states out of the total water availability. There was dispute as well over the quantum to be supplied to both Delhi and Rajasthan.
In principle it was agreed that Haryana would give seven per cent of the available water and UP five per cent to Delhi and Rajasthan. Haryana and UP also blamed each other for not honoring their commitments.
The Delhi Chief Minister lost no time in sounding a warning after the talks broke down. He expressed the apprehensions that water crisis would take a turn for the worse in the next few days and supply to more areas, including VIP zones, would be severely affected if Haryana and UP did not release additional waters immediately.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 13, 1994
