Delhi is facing “a very serious water crisis” because of Jat protests in Haryana and water is to be strictly rationed in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. Only a handful of VIPs and essential services will be exempt.
Barring (the) president, prime minister, Chief Justice of India, defence installations, hospitals (and) fire brigade, water (is) to be equally rationed amongst all.Arvind Kejriwal
He said he too would be covered by the water restrictions which could last at least one or two days even if the water supply was to resume on Sunday.
The Munak Canal in Haryana, which supplies water to large parts of Delhi, has been shut down after it was vandalized by a section of Jats demanding job reservations.
Kejriwal said he had spoken to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the need to restore water supply to Delhi at the earliest.
He urged residents of Delhi to “please save water”, saying that they might have to depend on the stored water for one or two days at least. Because of the water crisis, all schools in the national capital would be shut on Monday.
Delhi’s Water Minister Kapil Mishra had said earlier that seven water treatment plants had been shut in the city, and water supply would be affected, including the areas covered by the New Delhi Municipal Council, the civic body that covers the VIP heart of the capital.
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