Water crisis Kejriwal directs Delhi Jal Board to approach Supreme Court

The local Delhi government has approached the supreme court seeking its intervention in the water crisis.

The announcement said that schools will remain closed till the situation of water supply improves in the city.

Mishra said the supply of essential commodities in Delhi could also be affected in the next few days. “The Okhla treatment plant which has a capacity of 100 MGD is partially affected”, said officials.

“An emergency meeting of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) was called”.

He urged residents of Delhi to “please save water”, saying they might have to depend on the stored water for one or two days at least. “He has assured that he will immediately send army to ensure safety of munak canal(sic)”, Kejriwal tweeted”, Kejriwal tweeted. “Sought time from Rajnathji”.

Delhi’s Water Minister Kapil Mishra had said earlier that seven water treatment plants had been shut in the city, and water supply would be hit, including in areas covered by the New Delhi Municipal Council, the civic body that covers the VIP heart of the capital.

“We have made a decision to rationalise the supply so that people’s water demands are met. Areas in North, West and Central Delhi are major affected. The demonstrators vandalised the control buttons of the canal as per the messages we have received”, Mishra, who is also the DJB chairman, told reporters. The Indian administrative system reserves jobs and university places for underprivileged members of the lower castes, but the quota has caused resentment among many upper caste communities, including the Jats.

Protesters again went on the rampage on Saturday despite a curfew and the deployment of the army which is reported to have opened fire on them in the Rohtak and Jhajjar districts.

As the violence by Jat protestors demanding quota continued unabated, Chief Minister Manohar Khattar issued a fresh appeal to the people to maintain peace.