Water crisis in Delhi as UP fixes breach in upper Ganga canal

NEW DELHI: Various areas in East and South Delhi on Friday faced water shortage as Uttar Pradesh cut raw water supply to the city from the upper Ganga canal to fix a breach.

Concerned over cut in water supply due to the breach in Upper Ganga canal, the Delhi government has requested Union Water Resources Ministry and Uttar Pradesh to fix the problem at the earliest.

"The repair work of the breach in the Upper Ganga canal near Khatoli continues. Raw water supply to water treatment plants at Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi remains curtailed and production is affected," a senior Delhi Jal Board official said.

He said Delhi Jal Board has "rationalised" supply of water to the affected areas of East, South and South-West to ensure that the drinking water needs are met.

The Upper Ganga canal supplies around 450 cusec of water to Delhi out of which 200 cusec is supplied to the Bhagirathi plant and 250 cusec goes to Sonia Vihar plant.

Water treated by Sonia Vihar plant and Bhagirathi plant is supplied to East and South Delhi localities.

Officials said UP irrigation department, which maintains the canal, conveyed to the Delhi government that it may take at least five days to repair the breach.