New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Delhi government to approach the Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) for water supply, as Himachal Pradesh took a U-turn and told the apex court that it did not have excess water. .
A vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale asked the Delhi government to submit an application to the UYRB by 5 pm for supplying water to the national capital on humanitarian grounds.
Himachal Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that it does not have additional 136 cusecs of water and withdrew its earlier statement.
The bench said that sharing of Yamuna waters among the states is a complex and sensitive issue and this court does not have the technical expertise to decide on it even on an interim basis.
“This issue should be left for consideration by a body constituted by agreement of the parties to the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding.
"Whereas the UYRB has already directed Delhi to submit an application for supply of water on humanitarian grounds... such application, if not already made, should be made by 5 pm today, and the Board tomorrow Will convene a meeting and take a decision on the matter as soon as possible,'' the bench said.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to ease the water crisis in the national capital.
A vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale asked the Delhi government to submit an application to the UYRB by 5 pm for supplying water to the national capital on humanitarian grounds.
Himachal Pradesh government told the Supreme Court that it does not have additional 136 cusecs of water and withdrew its earlier statement.
The bench said that sharing of Yamuna waters among the states is a complex and sensitive issue and this court does not have the technical expertise to decide on it even on an interim basis.
“This issue should be left for consideration by a body constituted by agreement of the parties to the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding.
"Whereas the UYRB has already directed Delhi to submit an application for supply of water on humanitarian grounds... such application, if not already made, should be made by 5 pm today, and the Board tomorrow Will convene a meeting and take a decision on the matter as soon as possible,'' the bench said.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi government seeking direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to ease the water crisis in the national capital.
