New Delhi, Mar 17 — The Delhi government is in talks with neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for additional raw water supply ahead of the peak summer season, even as it explores a water-exchange arrangement to bridge the city’s widening demand–supply gap.
Officials said Delhi has sought increased release of water from both states while proposing to supply treated water to them for irrigation purposes under a reciprocal arrangement.
Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma said the proposal could benefit all sides. “While we fix the gaps in our supply lines and reduce water losses, the Delhi government is working on a project for exchange of raw water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in exchange of treated water, which can be used for irrigation purposes in their state. Such an agreement would be beneficial for both the sides,” he said.
The national capital requires around 1,260 million gallons per day (MGD) during peak summer demand, but currently receives roughly 1,000 MGD, creating a substantial shortfall.
Officials said the Delhi Jal Board operates nine water treatment plants that together supply about 864 MGD, while another 126 MGD is drawn through Ranney wells and tubewells.
Delhi also receives 256 MGD of water from Uttar Pradesh through the Upper Ganga Canal, while the Munak Canal from Haryana remains one of the city’s principal raw water sources.
“The Munak Canal accounts for about 60% of the total water supply in Delhi,” a Delhi Jal Board official said.
Under an existing inter-state water sharing arrangement, Haryana is expected to supply approximately 1,133 cusecs of water to Delhi through the Munak Canal and the Yamuna, the official added.
However, Verma said transmission losses in canals significantly reduce the volume reaching the capital. “We are talking to the neighbouring government to also repair major canals through which water is received. Delhi should receive the total water it is allocated, excluding transmission losses,” he said.
Officials also said the Delhi government has written to Haryana seeking the release of 51 cusecs of water that was originally allocated for irrigation but has not been supplied to the capital for several years.
Separately, Delhi has requested 140 MGD (about 270 cusecs) of water from Uttar Pradesh. In return, the government has proposed supplying treated water to the state for agricultural use.
The demand for additional supply has gained urgency as new water treatment plants near completion still lack raw water to operate.
Officials said the treatment plants at Dwarka (50 MGD capacity) and Chandrawal (105 MGD) are nearly ready but cannot be fully commissioned without additional water.
“A meeting was recently held in Chandigarh between officials from the Delhi Jal Board and senior officials from the Haryana government. Haryana government has expressed its willingness to consider this matter,” a second official said.
According to officials, running both plants even in phases would require an additional 70–80 MGD of raw water.
Haryana, one of Delhi’s primary water source states, has itself been facing water stress and has been engaged in a long-running dispute with Punjab over the Sutlej–Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, which is linked to water sharing between the two states.