Water crisis looms large in Indian capital following caste protests

The Indian capital city of New Delhi is facing a severe water crisis in the wake of deadly protests in the neighbouring Haryana state, officials said Sunday.

The New Delhi government said they had piped water supplies only until Sunday morning and announced closure of all schools on Monday.

"All schools will be closed tomorrow, both government and private," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told media. "We had water supplies only for today morning and there will be no further supplies."

The Jat agitators in Haryana seeking reservations in government jobs and education have damaged equipment in the Munak canal and diverted water supply meant for Delhi into a river. Munak canal is the major source of water for New Delhi.

At least eight people have been killed and over 80 others injured since Friday when the protesters turned violent.

The agitators in Haryana have resorted to arson and burnt buildings, shops, vehicles, railway stations, petrol pumps, government departments, besides digging roads.

Authorities have rushed in army and paramilitary to regain peace by imposing curfew and maintain law and order. However, protesters are defying the restrictions.

The violence has resulted in cancellation of road and rail traffic throughout the state.

Meanwhile, the local government in New Delhi has approached the supreme court of India, seeking its intervention to resolve the looming water crisis.

"Due to the agitation in Haryana, the water that comes to Delhi from the Munak canal has been stopped since the past two days and there has been no water supply, resulting in a severe water crisis," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told media.

Reports said the supply sources of water feeding the seven treatment plants have completely dried up, following which these plants were shut down.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has appealed for peace and urged protesters not to damage public property.

In India, quotas for lower castes and economically weaker sections are guaranteed constitutionally.

Analysts say quotas push people in India to an advantage in such areas as government jobs and education.

Though Jats are currently listed as upper caste, but they are demanding the status of Other Backward Classes, claiming the quotas for other lower castes put them at a disadvantage. Endit