Not good to play politics on water: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said it is not good to play politics over issues concerning water, expressing confidence that Haryana won't stop supplying Delhi its share of water.

New Delhi: There should be no politics over water, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted on Friday, a day after the Haryana government upset with him for siding with Punjab in a canal dispute said it may have to cut supply of water to Delhi.

Haryana supplies around 50 percent of total water Delhi require daily and any cut in supplies may result in severe water crisis in the city.

In a letter to Kejriwal yesterday, Haryana's Irrigation Minister OP Dhankar said his state will not be able to continue supply of water to Delhi as he stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana.

Punjab is locked in a fierce battle with Haryana over decades-old water sharing agreement. Political parties in Punjab are opposing supply of water to Haryana through the Sutlej-Yamuna canal which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 700 crore.

The AAP is hopeful of making a strong debut in Punjab Assembly polls and its chief Kejriwal had taken Punjab's side in the water dispute between the two states.

"Engaging in politics over water is not good as people from Punjab and Haryana are also own people. Everyone should get water," Kejriwal told reporters here.

Asked what will happen if Haryana refused to give water to Delhi, he said the state cannot take such a decision.

In his letter, Dhankar yesterday wrote "Seeing your stand (opposing the construction of SYL canal in Punjab) Haryana will not be able to deliver your share of water in Delhi since you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana.

"For Delhi's needs of water you may take the trouble of getting your own canal constructed from Nangal Dam and Tajewala Headwork's (Yamunanagar) so that Delhi's share of water reaches the national capital with your efforts," Dhankar had also said.

There had been acute water shortage in Delhi since last month following the Jat agitation. The situation had worsened when the agitators had taken control of the Munak canal. The protesters were removed by security forces. However, supply of water was hit as the agitators had damaged the canal.