Delhi is currently facing a water crisis. The city experienced severe water shortages in May that continue even now. Several heartbreaking videos were circulating online that showed people rushing to get water from water tankers in the past few weeks in the Capital. To give you a bit more insight into this issue, we will explain the cause of this water shortage and even tell you more about where Delhi’s water actually comes from.
Everything You Need To Know About Delhi’s Water Sources
Have you ever wondered where Delhi gets its water from? Its main sources are the Ganga Basin, Yamuna Sub-basin, and Indus basin. The city relies on internal aquifers for raw water supply. As per a report by The Indian Express, Delhi gets 470 cusecs of water from the Ganga River. This is received from the Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh.
The capital takes water from Haryana as well. This supply comes from rivers Ravi and Beas along with the Yamuna River. This makes up for about 330 cusecs of Delhi’s supply. Also, to meet its growing demand, the Delhi Jal Board takes water directly from the Yamuna River. According to The Indian Express report, the water board supplements its river-water supply with groundwater that is drawn from Delhi’s tubewells and Ranney wells.
Supreme Court Asks Himachal Pradesh To Release Surplus Water
On June 6, the Supreme Court asked Himachal Pradesh to release its surplus water to Delhi. Currently, Himachal Pradesh has about 137 cusecs of surplus water and the court believes it can help solve Delhi’s drinking water crisis. This water will reach Delhi via Haryana.
The big question remains – what caused this water crisis? In May, Wazirabad’s water treatment plant was, reportedly, functioning below its capacity. This was mainly because, as per IMD, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi recorded large rainfall deficits from May 1 to 24. This rain shortage meant there was not enough water in the Yamuna River for the water board to draw from the Wazirabad reservoir.
This crisis in Delhi is very concerning. Rising temperatures, overpopulation in the city, and rising water demand all contributed to this water shortage. We hope this issue is resolved soon in the Capital!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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