NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi government to explain why it has not been able to control tanker mafia here, resulting into water shortage in the national capital, which has been facing severe heatwave conditions.
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit about the measures undertaken to control water loss, saying, "We may ask the Delhi police to lodge an FIR in the matter".
The bench also severely reprimanded the Himachal Pradesh government for earlier claiming availability of additional water of 137 cusecs but subsequently maintaining that water has already been flowing in the barrage.
"We passed the order on the basis of statement made previously, we would straightaway send the officer to jail as now an affidavit said the excess water is already flowing," the bench told the Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh.
"If you are already releasing the water and it is coming from Himachal Pradesh, why a false statement was made," the bench further told the HP counsel.
The bench also asked Delhi government, represented by senior advocate A M Singhvi and advocate Shadan Farasat if they have taken any action against tanker mafia, which consumed and engulfed the water.
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"People are suffering. We see visuals in (TV) channels. What measures have you taken, this is a recurring problem every year? Have you taken any action or lodged FIR to check loss or pilferage," the bench asked them.
Delhi government counsel said it would be happy if Delhi police take action in the matter. He also said some of those tankers are of Delhi Jal Board being used to supply water to the affected localities.
The court asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit about action taken in this regard and scheduled the matter for hearing on June 13.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the Haryana government, submitted as per a report, there was a loss of 52.35 % of water loss.
Singhvi, on his part, alleged that Haryana has been very obstructive in its approach. "No state in India has been so obstructive as Haryana," he claimed.
The court was considering the compliance of its order passed on June 6 for supply of water by Himachal Pradesh to Delhi.
On a writ petition filed by the Delhi government, the Supreme Court had directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs surplus water available with it for drinking water requirement in Delhi in view of acute crisis and prevailing heatwave conditions here.
