Water supply to Delhi should not be reduced, Supreme Court directs Punjab, Haryana

Water supply to Delhi from Punjab and Haryana will not be reduced for now. The Supreme Court extended the status quo on water supply to Delhi effectively putting on hold a decision of Punjab and Haryana to curtail it by 25 per cent.

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the governments of Punjab and Haryana, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to maintain status quo on water supply to Delhi. The Supreme Court extended the status quo ordered on Thursday till the next hearing, which would happen after the Holi holidays. “Water supply to Delhi should not be reduced,” the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said. The Supreme Court, thus, put the decision of Punjab, Haryana and the BBMC to reduce the water supply to Delhi by one-fourth for repair in a canal that carries Yamuna river water to Delhi from these two states.