Amid the ongoing water crisis in the national capital, Delhi Water Minister Atishi, on Wednesday, threatened to go on an indefinite strike from June 21 if the issue is not resolved within a couple of days.
Atishi said Delhi is grappling with a water crisis since Haryana is not releasing the capital's share of water.
The minister had last week requested Haryana to give additional water to Delhi on humanitarian grounds. The Upper Yamuna River Board had advised Delhi and Haryana to hold a bilateral meeting and consider whether Haryana could give extra water to Delhi.
"Yesterday, Haryana released 513 MGD (million gallons per day) of water to Delhi as against 613 MGD. One MGD of water is for 28,500 people. This means that water was not released for over 28 lakh people," she said during a press conference.
"Today I have written a letter to the prime minister saying that 28 lakh people in Delhi are not getting water. I have requested that he should help provide water as soon as possible. If the people of Delhi do not get their rightful share of water by June 21, I will be forced to do a Satyagraha," the minister said.
The minister said they have written multiple letters to the Haryana government to resolve the issue.
BJP stages protest
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, along with other party workers, staged a protest outside Delhi Jal Board Office over the water crisis in the national capital.
"Our protest is in regards to water (supply). The people of Delhi are yearning for every drop of water and AAP MLAs and ministers are selling water. If this theft and black marketing stops, Delhi can get water," Sachdeva said.
"People are craving for every drop of water. Women spent nights waiting for water tankers while children in many areas are not able to take a bath for days due to scarcity," he said.
On Saturday, the Congress too had held protests across the city against the water shortage by smashing earthen pots on the ground.
