The Supreme Court noted that the recent change in government in Delhi may help resolve longstanding disputes regarding the Yamuna River, including pollution and equitable water supply from Haryana. In a hearing about water pollution, Justice BR Gavai expressed optimism that better implementation might occur under a unified BJP administration, which now governs Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The BJP’s victory over the Aam Aadmi Party was partly based on criticisms of Arvind Kejriwal’s failure to clean the Yamuna. Following the election, the BJP announced plans to clean the river and reduce industrial pollution contributing to its contamination.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court noted on Tuesday that the recent change in government in Delhi could potentially ‘resolve all disputes’ related to the Yamuna, such as cleaning the river of pollutants and ensuring that Haryana, through which the river flows into the national capital, provides an adequate supply of water.
The apex court had, in January 2021, taken suo moto cognizance of these matters and has been issuing periodic orders ever since. In this particular case, the court’s amicus curiae (a ‘friend of the court’), Meenakshi Arora, was addressing the conflict between the Delhi and Haryana governments.
“… but now, with the change of government, all disputes might get resolved. In these altered circumstances, better implementation may be achievable,” Justice BR Gavai remarked.
This comment arose during a hearing concerning water pollution and sharing from the Yamuna, which traverses two states – Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – before reaching Delhi.
Previously, both the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments were under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, following a significant victory over the Aam Aadmi Party, all three states are now governed by the BJP.
The BJP’s success in Delhi was founded on a two-fold strategy, one aspect of which focused on criticizing AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for failing to clean the Yamuna, a promise he made before the 2020 elections.
The BJP also attacked Mr. Kejriwal over allegations that the Haryana government was contaminating the Yamuna water by introducing “poison” – specifically referring to dangerously high ammonia levels – that is supplied to Delhi.
READ | Dispute Over Kejriwal’s “Haryana Mixing Poison In Yamuna Water” Allegation
Mr. Kejriwal’s assertions provoked a strong reaction from Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who publicly drank Yamuna water, and from the Election Commission, which reprimanded him.
This also spurred criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who labeled Mr. Kejriwal’s statements as “disgusting” and asserted that he had been drinking Yamuna water for 11 years.
READ | “Can Haryana BJP Poison Water PM Drinks?” PM Modi Critiques AAP
The political struggle over the polluted river – which BJP leaders have referred to as ‘Yamuna maiya‘, or ‘Mother Yamuna’, both before and after the election – became a significant focal point.
In his victory speech following the election, Mr. Modi began and concluded with the phrase ‘Yamuna ki jai” and stated, “People of Delhi have been lamenting over the condition of Yamuna…”
The BJP has pledged to clean the Yamuna now that it holds power.
READ | Yamuna Clean-Up Initiated In Delhi Days After BJP’s Election Victory
Last week, the party unveiled a three-year plan aimed at this goal and deployed machines to clean the surface of the river, collecting biological and plastic waste. Additionally, they ordered a crackdown on industrial facilities along the river that had been discharging untreated sewage into the waters.
With contributions from various agencies
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