Within the coronary heart of New Delhi, amidst the relentless grip of a worsening water disaster, Delhi Water Minister Atishi has taken a daring stance by initiating an indefinite starvation strike beginning June 21. This resolute resolution, introduced on Thursday, goals to safe Delhi’s rightful share of water from neighboring Haryana.

Accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s spouse, Sunita, in addition to AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh, Atishi commenced her protest at Bhogal Colony, Jangpura, after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

The basis of the water shortage lies in Haryana’s failure to fulfill its obligation of supplying 613 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to Delhi, as a substitute offering a mere 513 MGD. This important shortfall has severely affected over 2.8 million residents, exacerbating the pressure amidst Delhi’s ongoing heatwave.

Expressing her exasperation, Atishi underscored the in depth efforts undertaken by the Delhi authorities to handle the difficulty. These efforts encompassed appeals to each the Central and Haryana governments, exploration of different provide routes by way of engagement with Himachal Pradesh, and authorized recourse sought by way of the Supreme Courtroom.

Regardless of the entire water provide to Delhi, comprising contributions from native sources alongside Haryana’s allocation, amounting to 1005 MGD, the persistent shortfall from Haryana stays unresolved, prompting Atishi’s decisive motion.

Labeling her starvation strike as ‘Pani Satyagraha’, Atishi goals to attract consideration to what she perceives because the ‘unjust denial’ of water to Delhi. She emphasised that the strike will persist till Haryana rectifies its water allocation, emphasizing the urgency of the scenario amidst the scorching heatwave gripping the town. Atishi remarked, “With temperatures hovering and water calls for escalating, Delhi can not endure this deprivation any longer.”