Delhi Water Crisis Becomes Acute as Minister Starts Hunger Strike

Delhi Water Minister Atishi begins an indefinite hunger strike over water shortage, demanding increased supply from Haryana. Chief Minister Kejriwal supports from jail as crisis affects millions. AAP leaders join protest amid heatwave and political tensions between states.

Delhi’s water woes have worsened with Water Minister Atishi going on an indefinite hunger strike on friday to prod neighbouring Haryana to release more water. The event, called ‘Pani Satyagraha’ (Water Truth-Force), is taking place in the context of water crisis caused by severe water shortages affecting millions of Delhi inhabitants during the heatwave.

Atishi started her strike in Bhogal area of South Delhi along with Sunita Kejriwal wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders. The chief minister, now in Tihar jail facing some charges including involvement in the liquor policy case, endorsed Atishi’s protest through his wife reading a message.

‘We are a people who have water to give to a thirsty person,’ Kejriwal said while expressing ire at Haryana for recently cutting down Delhi’s water supply. He appealed to the people to cross the political parties’ divides and join hands to fight the crisis; this is because Delhi is under the rule of one political party while Haryana is under the rule of another political party.

Atishi reveals that Delhi has been getting only 513 MGD water from Haryana for the past two weeks as against to 613 MGD water. According to the reports, it has hit more than 2. 8 million people. The scenario was even aggravated in the recent days with Haryana cutting a further supply of 100 to 120 MGD.

The water scarcity has affected the functionality of its water purification facilities in Delhi, making the situation worse in the current sweltering summer. AAP leaders like MP Sanjay Singh and minister Saurabh Bharadwaj have support Atishi’s protest.

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With increase in the day of hunger strike, the conflict between Delhi and Haryana is going to build up more pressure on both the state governments to come up with solution to this water crisis. It remains a headache for millions of Delhi residents living through a daily challenge of poor water supply especially during summer periods.