Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Wednesday expressed its inability to release 300 cusecs water for Delhi's Sonia Vihar treatment plant in the prevailing circumstances.

``Our State is facing water scarcity following weak monsoons for the past several years. We can release water for Delhi only after the Tehri dam is commissioned in Uttaranchal,'' State Irrigation Minister Meraj-ud-din told a press conference here.

He claimed that U.P. would not receive its full share of water from Tehri Dam before the year 2009. ``Until the Tehri dam functions at full steam, we are incapable of releasing water to the national Capital,'' he maintained.

Under the National Water Policy, of the 4,000 cusecs water to be received in Bhagirathi river from Tehri Dam, U.P. would utilise 500 cusecs water for drinking and the rest for irrigation purposes. ``Out of the 500 cusecs water for drinking, 300 and 200 cusecs have been allocated for Delhi and U.P. respectively,'' Mr Meraj-ud-din informed.

The Sonia Vihar treatment plant was to be completed after Tehri dam. However, its construction preceded the Dam and it, therefore, awaits its share of water.

The Minister informed that the State had released 80 cusecs water for the Treatment Plant on a special request by the Delhi Government.

``This water was released for three months out of U.P.'s share,'' he added.

According to him, Tehri Hydro Development officials had intimated the Central Water Resources Secretary that Tehri Dam would be commissioned only in 2010.

``Till that time, the amount of water released during non-monsoon period would be quite paltry from the dam.''

Since, the winters went largely dry this season, no water was released from Tehri dam for two months.

UNI

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