Delhi's Water Crisis Could Resolve If Water Stopped From Ravi, Beas River Going To Pakistan Is Re-Routed

With the day temperature already hovering around 40-degree Celsius, Delhi is all set for what could be a hot and dry summer, where water shortage is going to be a huge issue.

But the Delhi government has come up with an interesting suggestion that could provide a major relief to the national capital in peak summer.

AFP/ REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has told the High Court that if the Centre can re-route the water from rivers Ravi and Beas, which was stopped from flowing into Pakistan, it could help the capital in summer.

In a rejoinder filed by the DJB in the court, it stated "As per recent reports, 0.53 million acre-feet (MAF) water has become available in Ravi and Beas rivers, which has been stopped by the central government from going into Pakistan. Even a part of this water will greatly help Delhi tide over the lean period.”

AFP/ REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE

According to DJB vice-chairman Dinesh Mohaniya, even if a portion of the 0.53 MAF (approx 500 MGD) is given to Delhi, the water crisis in Delhi could be solved.

India had halted the flow of water from the Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers to Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty last month following the Pulwama terror attack in February.

Union Minister Arjun Meghwal had then stated that 0.53 million acre-feet of eastern rivers which were flowing into Pakistan have been stopped and has been stored, adding that whenever Rajasthan or Punjab needs it, that water can be used for drinking and irrigation purposes.