PM's Office Drawn into Delhi Water Crisis as AAP Ministers Appeal to Modi

Delhi's ongoing water crisis has escalated to the highest levels of government, with four cabinet ministers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appealing directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance. The ministers - Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, and Imran Hussain - have penned a letter to the Prime Minister, urging his intervention to ensure Delhi receives its allocated share of 100 MGD (million gallons per day) water from Haryana on a priority basis. 

Severe Shortage Amidst Extreme Heat 

In their letter, the AAP ministers emphasize the gravity of the situation, noting that Delhi is facing an unprecedented water crisis due to exceptionally high temperatures this year. They state that the current heatwave is the most severe the city has experienced in the past decade, leaving residents desperate for every drop of water. The ministers argue that the extreme weather has significantly increased Delhi's water requirements at a time when supply is falling short. 

Dependence on Neighboring States 

The letter highlights Delhi's reliance on its neighbors for water supply. Out of the total 1005 MGD water supply in Delhi, a significant portion - 613 MGD - comes from Haryana. However, over the past few weeks, there has been a noticeable reduction in the water received from Haryana, with Delhi reportedly receiving 100 MGD less than its allocated share on many days. To put this shortage into perspective, the ministers explain that 1 MGD of water serves the daily needs of approximately 28,500 people in Delhi. Consequently, a deficit of 100 MGD means that about 2.8 million people are facing water scarcity. 

Exhausting All Options 

The Delhi government claims to have explored all possible avenues to address the water shortage. These efforts include:

1. Writing to the Chief Minister of Haryana
2. Attempting to meet with the Union Water Minister
3. Appealing to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for additional water 
4. Approaching the Supreme Court 
5. Despite these efforts, including the Supreme Court acknowledging Delhi's water crisis, the ministers claim that Haryana has not released the full allocated water supply to Delhi. 

The letter to PM Modi appears to be a last resort for the Delhi government, as the ministers express their frustration at the lack of progress despite their various attempts to resolve the crisis. They appeal to the Prime Minister to intervene and help secure the much-needed water supply for the residents of Delhi.

As the summer heat intensifies and water demand continues to rise, the resolution of this inter-state water dispute becomes increasingly crucial for the millions of affected Delhi residents. The involvement of the Prime Minister's office adds a new dimension to this ongoing crisis, potentially paving the way for a high-level intervention to address the urgent water needs of the national capital.