Water crisis could continue for another 15 days in Delhi

NEW DELHI, February 23: A water crisis in India’s capital will take up to two weeks to fix, authorities warned Tuesday as taps ran dry, days after protesters sabotaged a canal to demand better treatment for their caste.
Jat caste groups called off their protests on Monday after the government in the northern state of Haryana accepted their demands following days of riots, arson and looting that saw thousands of troops deployed.
New Delhi’s water board was battling to restore full supplies to the city of 17 million people which relies heavily on the canal running through neighbouring Haryana.
Water trucks fanned out across the teeming city, with many households without a regular water supply four days after the canal was badly damaged.
Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra tweeted that tap water was being restored in parts of north, central and Old Delhi on Monday evening.
“Tomorrow morning (Wednesday) most areas to get piped supply…supply limited till canal repaired,” Mishra said. “Delhi Jal Board (Delhi Water Board) team already at site of damaged canal. Two heavy earth moving machines (of the board) at site along with senior engineers,” he added.
But with just four of the city’s nine water treatment plants operating, rationing of supplies to many areas was continuing.
“We are hoping to restore partial services in the next two to three days and 100 percent supply within next 15 days,” said senior water board official Neeraj Semwal.
“North, west and south Delhi districts were severely affected by the water shortage with thousands of households not getting regular water supplies.”
India sent troops to secure the canal after protesters, demanding a quota for their Jat caste in public service jobs and higher education, seized it on Saturday and diverted the water flow away from the capital.-AFP