Ensure unhindered water supply to Delhi

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Haryana government to ensure water is supplied to the national capital without any hindrance after it was told there were 'bunds' on river Yamuna at several places apart from mining activity.

"There should be no hindrance in flow of water from there (Haryana) to Delhi," a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani said. The direction came after a committee, constituted by the high court to inspect whether 'bunds' have been put in the canals carrying water meant for Delhi, told the bench that such obstructions were found at 11 locations on the river Yamuna.

The committee, also comprising retired high court judge Justice Indermeet Kaur and amicus curiae Rakesh Khanna, submitted a report which stated that apart from the bunds, there was large scale mining in river Yamuna and one of its tributaries -- Somb. The report stated that the mining was "causing huge environmental damage to the flora and fauna" in and around the river-bed.

It also said that the bunds "have definitely affected the flow of water in the river Yamuna". The committee said, "The State of Haryana has deliberately and intentionally kept back the information regarding the details of mining site permits along the river Yamuna. Holding back of such information shows that the State was trying to provide a cover to the activities affecting not only the flow of water, but also causing environmental pollution...." It recommended removal of all bunds forthwith.