- Delhi's Water Minister Atishi was hospitalized
- The heatwave has increased demand for electricity and water
- Delhi is now relying on water tankers
Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi was hospitalized on Tuesday after her sugar levels dropped dangerously low during a hunger strike to protest the city’s water crisis. She had not eaten for five days and was being treated in the ICU.
Atishi began her indefinite hunger strike on June 24 to highlight the severe water shortages in Delhi, which has been experiencing a prolonged heatwave with temperatures over 40C for weeks.
The heatwave has increased demand for electricity and water, straining the city’s resources.
The minister accused the neighboring state of Haryana of restricting water supply to Delhi, citing a 1996 court order that mandated Haryana to provide a portion of its water to Delhi throughout the year.
However, Haryana denied the charge and blamed Delhi’s AAP government for the water crisis, accusing them of mismanagement.
Atishi alleged that Haryana reduced water supply to Delhi by 100 million gallons per day for the past three weeks, affecting 2.8 million people. She requested additional water release on humanitarian grounds, but Haryana refused.
Delhi is now relying on water tankers as its water supply is almost depleted.
The city’s residents are struggling to cope with the water crisis, and Atishi’s hunger strike has brought attention to the issue.
Her condition is being closely monitored, and her party, AAP, is urging the Haryana government to release additional water to Delhi.
