Delhi's Water Crisis: Supreme Court Lambasts Government over Tanker Mafia

The Supreme Court criticized the Delhi government over persistent water scarcity, condemning water wastage and the tanker mafia's influence. The court questioned why water could be transported by tankers but not through pipelines, and demanded stringent measures against water theft. The Delhi government has promised action, and the court has urged immediate steps.

The Supreme Court lambasted the AAP government on Wednesday over ongoing water scarcity in Delhi, highlighting the prevalence of water wastage and the rampant tanker mafia. The bench questioned the government's inefficacy, asking why water transported by tankers can't be supplied through pipelines.

Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale warned the Delhi administration of seeking police intervention if the tanker mafia issue isn't resolved. They pointed out the necessity of stringent laws to curb water theft, similar to those addressing electricity theft, emphasizing that the public is suffering due to these repeated infractions.

Advocate Shadan Farasat reassured the bench of ongoing efforts, including water supply disconnections in non-essential areas, and expressed openness to police involvement. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi noted the city isn't receiving its full water quota as per the Upper Yamuna River Board's 2018 directive. The court demanded an affidavit from the Delhi government on measures taken to prevent water loss, pressing for immediate action to mitigate the crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)