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Delhi Jal Board has moved Supreme Court seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Shri Vijai Vardhan, Chief Secretary, Haryana and Shri Devender Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Haryana for wilful disobedience of order dated February 29, 1996.

Coupled with the contempt proceedings, Delhi Jal Board has also filed an application seeking immediate compliance with the order dated February 29, 1996.

The Court on February 29, 1996 had directed the State of Haryana to keep the water level at Wazirabad reservoir full to its capacity for meeting the drinking water needs of the NCT of Delhi. 

“Due to non-supply of adequate water by the State of Haryana, the water level in the Wazirabad reservoir stands at only 667.60 feet as against the mandated level of 674.50 feet, as on 10.07.2021. This means that the Wazirabad reservoir is only 31% full. This has the possibility of triggering a severe water crisis in the NCT of Delhi,” plea states. 

The plea further states that Delhi Jal Board has already curtailed water for several areas in the NCT of Delhi including President’s Estate, Parliament House and other institutional and diplomatic buildings, as well as many residential areas.

On Sunday, Delhi Jal Board Chairman Raghav Chadha had taken to twitter to announce the board’s decision to move the Supreme Court against the Haryana government for withholding Delhi’s share of water. Chadha in his tweet had said that water levels in the Yamuna river were at an “all-time low”, as Haryana was not releasing Delhi’s “legitimate share” as per a 1995 ruling of the Supreme Court.

“We are witnessing all-time low water levels in Yamuna river as Delhi's water share withheld by Haryana. @DelhiJalBoard has decided to move Hon'ble Supreme Court against Haryana Govt seeking due supply of Delhi's legitimate share as already determined by the Hon'ble SC in 1995," Chadha tweeted.

Appearing for Delhi Jal Board, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat had also moved an application for urgent mention through Video Conferencing before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India submitting that NCT of Delhi is staring at an extremely grave and precipitate water crisis.