The Supreme Court has directed the Upper Yamuna River Board to convene an urgent meeting on June 5 involving all concerned states to address the water shortage affecting Delhi's residents.

A status report on the progress is expected by June 6.

Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan of the Vacation Bench presided over a hearing on a writ petition filed by the Delhi government. The petition sought directives to the State of Haryana for the prompt release of water to alleviate the water crisis in the national capital.

The Court instructed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, to ensure that the Board's meeting takes place on June 5. The plea, filed by the Delhi government, highlighted the critical water scarcity in the capital attributed to the intense heatwave sweeping across northern India.

Despite implementing various administrative measures such as optimization, rationing, and targeted supply, the Delhi government highlighted an urgent situation in the capital. The demand for water was escalating rapidly while the available supply remained limited. Therefore, the plea emphasized the necessity for additional water supply from neighboring states.

The plea mentioned that Himachal Pradesh, one of the neighboring states, had expressed willingness to share its surplus water with Delhi. However, to effectively address the crisis, cooperation from Haryana was crucial. Unlike Himachal Pradesh, which shares no direct borders with the capital, Haryana's proximity makes it essential for releasing water to Delhi, including the surplus water offered by Himachal Pradesh.

Highlighting that Delhi is populated by migrants from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Delhi Government, emphasized the reciprocal obligations of Haryana. He asserted that Haryana should assist Delhi in addressing the water and sanitation crisis. Dr. Singhvi noted that although a request had been made to the Haryana government, it had not yet been granted.

In response, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta pointed out that while the Board could convene and facilitate additional water arrangements, the Delhi government needed to address the issue of nearly 50% wastage of the water supplied to the national capital.

The Delhi government clarified that the request for assistance regarding additional water supply was solely intended as a temporary solution to tackle the present crisis. They emphasized that this request didn't affect any inter-state water dispute or the capital's rightful claim over shared water resources.