New Delhi, March 17: The Delhi government has launched negotiations with neighboring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to secure additional raw water ahead of the peak summer season. Water Minister Parvesh Verma stated that the city is pursuing a collaborative project to exchange treated water for raw water, a move intended to support irrigation in neighboring states while meeting the capital’s drinking water needs.
The capital currently faces a significant supply gap, receiving roughly 1,000 million gallons per day (MGD) against a peak summer requirement of 1,260 MGD. To address this, the Delhi Jal Board is requesting an additional 140 MGD from Uttar Pradesh and the release of a long-pending 51-cusec irrigation quota from Haryana.
“While we fix the gaps in our supply lines and reduce water losses, the Delhi government is working on a project for exchange of raw water,” Verma asserted. He maintained that such an agreement would prove mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
A primary concern for the city is the transmission loss occurring in the Munak Canal, which accounts for 60 percent of Delhi’s total water supply. Verma noted that the government is in discussions with Haryana to repair major canals to ensure the city receives its full allocation.
The urgency of these talks is underscored by the near-completion of new water treatment plants at Dwarka and Chandrawal. Although these facilities offer a combined capacity of 155 MGD, officials affirmed that there is currently no additional raw water available to operationalize them. A Delhi Jal Board official declared that a recent meeting in Chandigarh indicated the Haryana government is willing to consider the request for the irrigation quota.
