Jat reservation: Delhi today reeled under an unprecedented water crisis following cut in its supply from Haryana due to Jat stir, prompting city Government to order shutting of all schools tomorrow and rationing of water.
After a high-level emergency meeting, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the situation serious and appealed to people to conserve water as much as possible.
Delhi Jal Board said seven out of nine water treatment plants across the city have been closed due to disruption in supply of raw water from Munak Canal in Haryana which is under siege of the Jat agitators.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, Delhi Government last night had moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to the Centre to intervene and ensure restoration of supply from the Munak canal.
The apex court today agreed to give urgent hearing on the issue tomorrow.
The Delhi Government order excludes Rashtrapati Bhavan, residences of the Prime Minister and CJI, defence installations and hospitals.
“Rationing of water will include all sections barring Rashtrapati Bhavan, residences of Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, defence installations, hospitals and fire brigades.
I am appealing to all to conserve water water,” Kejriwal said adding his residence and office will also come under water rationing.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the schools will be closed tomorrow and the examination and admission process will be postponed due to the water crisis.
“It is feared that there will be no water tomorrow morning and the Delhi government has directed closure of all schools, including private ones tomorrow.
The ongoing examinations and admission process will be postponed.
The situation will be assessed tomorrow and further decisions will be taken afterwards,” Sisodia said.
Calling the crisis “unprecedented”, Kejriwal said Delhi Government has been pursuing the Haryana and Central governments since yesterday to seek army help to open the Munak canal.
Meanwhile, the Jat quota stir reached Delhi today as the agitating community held demonstrations at various places across the city including in Nangloi, Madhuban Chowk, Narela, Najafgarh, leading to severe disruption of traffic on several arterial roads in South, West Delhi and Outer Delhi.
There also were reports of damage to public property by the protesters, who blocked major state border entry points, including Sindhu border, Nangloi-Bahadurgarh Road, Karnal road, Tikari, Jharoda and Madhuban Chowk in southwest and outer Delhi.
On the water crisis, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said the situation was very serious and that water rationing has been started across the city.
The DJB supplies around 900 million gallons of water daily out of which around 600 million gallons of raw water come from Munak Canal.
The Chief Minister said even if Haryana releases water immediately, it will take at least 24 hours more to restore the supply.
He said whatever water is stored in reservoirs is being supplied through the tankers.
“I had talked to the Home Minister and the CM of Haryana urging them to resume supply from the canal by sending army there. I hope they will be trying it,” he said.
Today’s emergency meeting chaired by Kejriwal was attended by Sisodia, Water minister Kapil Mishra and officials of Delhi Jal Board(DJB) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
Mishra said the city is facing “a never before water crisis” and appealed to the people to maintain calm. The gates of the canal are closed, he said.
The DJB said all local bodies including New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board have been advised to ensure proper rationing of water.
“Delhi Jal Board appeals to the citizens of Delhi to conserve water and use it with the utmost care,” it said in a statement.
On the Jat protest in Delhi, police said the situation in various parts have been brought under control.
“Several companies of Delhi Police have been deployed in Najafgarh and adjoining areas,” said DCP (south west) RA Sanjeev.
The protests led to diversion of traffic with several roads leading to neighbouring Haryana having been blocked by protesters, a senior police officer said.
“All the major roads are severely affected with Madhuban Chowk having been blocked by the demonstrators,” Additional DCP (Outer) Pankaj Kumar Singh said, adding, “The situation is under control so far.
“Jats in neighbouring Haryana have been agitating for the past few days to press their demand for quotas in jobs and educational institutions.
The protests have been accompanied by violence with curfew having been imposed in many places and the army being called in to bring the situation under control.
The protests have disrupted normal life in Haryana’s Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Sonipat and Hisar districts.