Amid the ongoing dispute between Punjab and Haryana over water, water crisis has arisen in 10 districts of Haryana. The situation is such that water has completely dried up in 51 water tanks of the state. The most affected among these are Sirsa, Rohtak, Mahendragarh, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani, along with many cities of South Haryana.
The rationing system of the Public Health Department has also weakened due to the depletion of water in the water tanks. However, now water is being supplied through tube wells in such places. At present, water is being supplied at one time in the urban areas of these districts, while in the villages water is being supplied every alternate day.
Tanker water is being used to quench the thirst of people in the cities. According to the government, there should not be a water crisis at this time, but the Punjab government has created a crisis by cutting the water.
The government has made a plan
After the Punjab government cut Haryana’s share of water, an important meeting was held on 29 April under the chairmanship of Public Health Minister Ranveer Gangwa. In this, a special plan was prepared for the availability of water to the people of the state.
Under this, many important points were included in the plan made to overcome the water crisis and to distribute water equally among the people. The government had even planned that if the water crisis in the state increased, then it would implement water rationing in the affected districts.
Rationing is not being done due to drying of water houses
Strict instructions were given to the officials to implement this planning. Along with this, instructions have been given to work in the field in the water crisis in the midst of summer. The rationing system was started by the department and different time periods have been fixed for urban and rural areas. But due to the reduction in canal water, water has now disappeared from 51 water houses of the state.
It is very difficult to give 150 liters of water per person
In view of the water crisis, the department has said under Water Supply and Demand Assistance that the officials will have to plan by setting a standard of 150 liters considering the requirement of water per person.
Along with this, the current capacity of the city will also be assessed. During the closure period of canal water, work will have to be done by depending on alternative sources like shallow tube wells and tankers, but the department is having a tough time meeting that standard because the flow of canal water has reduced. Although the department is releasing water in the water tanks through pump sets, but the availability of water is not being met.
Minister said – Punjab is doing petty politics
Haryana’s Public Health Minister Ranveer Gangwa said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of Punjab is doing petty politics regarding water. He said that every year in the month of May, water is distributed by BBMB.
Despite the availability of water, the Punjab government has cut Haryana’s share by half. Whereas for the last several years, Haryana has received more than 9 thousand cusecs of water. Actually, Haryana should get 8 and a half thousand cusecs of water, but the Punjab government has reduced it by half.
Now work is being done on three-month planning
The minister said that the High Court has also given a decision in the interest of Haryana, but the Punjab government is not ready to accept it, which is fatal for the democratic system of the country. Gangwa said that more water is needed in summer, so he has instructed the officials to prepare a plan to overcome the water shortage in the next three months. The team of officials of the Public Health Department is engaged in providing clean water to the general public.
