Haryana stir leaves Delhi dry; schools to shut on Monday due to water crisis

Faced with cut in water supply from Haryana due to the Jat stir, the Delhi government announced closure of schools on Monday as part of water rationing in the city to deal with the crisis.

After a high-level emergency meeting, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said barring Rashtrapati Bhavan, offices and residences of the prime minister, Chief Justice of India, defence installations, hospitals and fire brigade, water will be rationed equally among others. He said his residence and office will also come under water rationing.

He said disruption in water supply to Delhi from Haryana’s Munak canal due to the Jat agitation has severely affected the city and appealed to the people to conserve water as much as possible.

“Barring President, PM, CJI, defence installations, hospis, fire brigades water to be equally rationed amongst all. Please save water. Schools closed tomorrow,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

The Delhi government had on Saturday night moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to the Centre to intervene and ensure water supply from Munak canal.

The chief minister said all the water treatment plants have been shut and even if Haryana releases water on Sunday it will take at least 24 hours more to restore the supply.           

“There is very little water as it is not coming from there (canal). All the water treatment plants are closed and whatever water is stored in reservoirs is being supplied through the tankers,” he said.

There is an unprecedented crisis and the Delhi government is in constant touch with the Union home ministry and the Haryana authorities for resumption of water supply from the canal, Kejriwal said.

“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.

The water supply to Delhi was disrupted due to the Jat stir on February 19.

The emergency meeting chaired by Kejriwal was attended by Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Water minister Kapil Mishra and officials of Delhi Jal Board and New Delhi Municipal Council.

Sisodia said that the schools will be closed on Monday 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.

Delhi Water minister Kapil 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.

“Hello Dilli, not so very good morning. Canal Gates still closed. We have reached out to Haryana, central government and the Supreme Court. Hearing today. Keep calm,” he said in a tweet.