New Delhi, May 28
Even as the key players canvassed with claims and counter claims on the contentious water-sharing issue, the Centre today asked Yamuna riparian states to follow Supreme Court instructions and fulfil their respective commitments in a time-bound manner.

According to a statement issued by the Haryana Government, Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat emphasised that the instructions of the Supreme Court on the issue must be followed and commitments fulfilled in a time-bound manner.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the state was supplying more water to Delhi than its legitimate share as per the 1994 MoU. Speaking at the fifth meeting of Upper Yamuna Review Committee, the Haryana CM said Haryana had completed construction of the Carrier Lined Channel but Delhi must plug an unauthorised cut so that it could become operational, a statement issued by the state government stated.

The meeting was presided over by Rawat and attended by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit Irrigation Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Hema Ram Choudhary, UP Irrigation Minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav and Himachal Pradesh Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania.

Meanwhile, Hooda hoped that the construction of upstream dams on the Yamuna at Lakhwar Vyasi and Kishau would now be fast-tracked. On water availability situation in Haryana, he said the state had only 14 million acre-feet (MAF) of water as compared to the requirement of 36 MAF. Haryana was getting much less water from Yamuna at Tajewala than Delhi, he said.

“During the lean period, Delhi’s share is much less as compared to that of Haryana. There is also decline in the contribution of water from Sahibi, Krishnavati and Dohan rivers, Yamuna tributaries, because of construction of check dams by Rajasthan in the catchment areas of these rivers. This has resulted in acute problem of water in southern Haryana,” Hooda pointed out.

Hooda supported Rawat’s proposal regarding expediting the construction of storage projects at Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi. On the issue of water problems with UP and Rajasthan, he said they will be sorted out in meetings with the states.