Engaging in politics over water is not good: Kejriwal tells Haryana govt over canal dispute

New Delhi: There should be no politics over water, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted on Friday, a day after the Haryana government said it may have to cut supply of water to Delhi. The Haryana government is upset with Kejriwal for siding with Punjab in a canal dispute. [caption id=“attachment_2684566” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal[/caption] Haryana supplies around 50 per cent of total water to Delhi on a daily basis and any cut in supplies could result in severe water crisis in the city. In a letter to Kejriwal on Thursday, Haryana’s Irrigation Minister O P Dhankar said his state will not be able to continue supply of water to Delhi as he stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana. Punjab is locked in a fierce battle with Haryana over decades-old water sharing agreement. Political parties in Punjab are opposing supply of water to Haryana through the Sutlej-Yamuna canal which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 700 crore. The AAP is hopeful of making a strong debut in Punjab assembly polls and its chief Kejriwal had taken Punjab’s side in the water dispute between the two states. “Engaging in politics over water is not good as people from Punjab and Haryana are our own people. Everyone should get water,” Kejriwal told reporters here. Asked what will happen if Haryana refused to give water to Delhi, he said the state cannot take such a decision. In his letter, Dhankar on Thursday wrote “Seeing your stand (opposing the construction of SYL canal in Punjab) Haryana will not be able to deliver your share of water in Delhi since you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana. “For Delhi’s needs of water you may take the trouble of getting your own canal constructed from Nangal Dam and Tajewala Headwork’s (Yamunanagar) so that Delhi’s share of water reaches the national capital with your efforts,” Dhankar had also said. There had been acute water shortage in Delhi since last month following the Jat agitation. The situation had worsened when the agitators had taken control of the Munak canal. The protesters were removed by security forces. However, supply of water was hit as the agitators had damaged the canal. PTI