Delhi is faced with an acute water crisis. Who is to be blamed?

Amid extreme heat, Delhi is facing a severe water crisis. Pictures and videos being widely-shared on social media show locals running and climbing onto water tanks to fill their vessels. A political blame game has also ensued between the AAP, the BJP and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over the crisis. 

The AAP government has said that the national capital is witnessing a shortage of 50 million gallons of water every day, affecting thousands of households. Delhi minister Atishi has alleged that Haryana is releasing 1,050 cusecs less than the water originally allocated for Delhi. However, L-G Saxena has denied these claims. 

Meanwhile, in the heart of Delhi, at Chanakyapuri’s Vivekananda camp, locals queue up for water as early as 5 am even though the water tank arrives between 7 am and 8 am. With many jostling for water, some get their share and some have to wait for the next tank. A similar scene is witnessed at Sanjay Camp, Kusumpur Pahari, Gopalpur, Laxmi Nagar, Geeta Colony and most other areas of south Delhi.

As per the last Delhi Economic Survey, the city is dependent on four sources for its water supply: Ganga river, Bhakra storage, Yamuna river, and groundwater sources. Newslaundry found that the water level in Yamuna has decreased, like most summers. We also traced the water channel at Munak Canal, from where Delhi gets water from Haryana.

So who bears the blame for the water crisis in the national capital?

Watch.

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