We will not permit water loss: Delhi HC on Munak canal row

New Delhi: Pulling up Haryana government, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned its refusal to supply water to Munak canal and said it will not allow any more wastage of water.

"Everyday 80 MGD of water is lost. Why are you not supplying water to the Munak canal? We will not allow this to continue at the cost of humanity. Stop the loss of water," a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul said while questioning Haryana government which is involved in a tussle over water sharing with Delhi.

According to Delhi Jal Board, Munak canal has been completed but not commissioned yet. The water supplied by Haryana to Delhi is through a kachcha canal which results in seepage and translates to 50 per cent of water loss.

"80 MGD of water would be saved if water is channelled properly. There is a dispute between Delhi and Haryana with respect to sharing of water," it had said.

Earlier, the high court had expressed concern over the dispute and said that "it was tragic that Haryana and Delhi were locked in a battle while 80 million gallons per day (MGD) were being lost and citizens deprived of drinking water.

The court had appointed advocate Rakesh Khanna as amicus curiae in the matter.

The bench was hearing a PIL seeking commissioning of the 102-km Munak canal, which was constructed by Haryana with financial assistance of around Rs 400 crore from Delhi government on the condition that the national capital will be supplied 80 MGD water from it.

In a similar matter related to Munak Canal, the high court granted permission to DJB for carrying out laying of pipeline through a former army officer's property.