Haryana CM Nayab Saini Meets ECI After AAP’s Complaint On ‘Poisonous’ Ammonia In Yamuna Water

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar at the Election Commission of India (ECI) office in Delhi on Tuesday, following a complaint by an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation, led by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, regarding alleged high levels of ammonia in Yamuna water. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva also visited the ECI office to file a complaint against the AAP.  

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Atishi said, “Just now, I, along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, met with the Election Commission. We had a long discussion over the water issue in Delhi. We told them how water coming from Haryana has poisonous ammonia levels. Water treatment plants in Delhi can only treat water up to PPM-1 and PPM-2. However, since the last few days, the ammonia levels have been increasing up to PPM-7, which is poisonous. If this continues, many of our water treatment plants will shut down and 30 per cent of Delhi won’t be able to get water. Election Commission has assured us that they will take action in favour of the people of Delhi.”  

Atishi also criticised CM Nayab Singh Saini’s remarks on the Yamuna water issue, stating, “He himself has exposed his lies… It is not a matter of opinion. It is a factual statement. Even the letter written by DJB CEO says that Delhi’s water treatment plants can treat ammonia up to 1-2 ppm… I have given this suggestion to the EC that a joint team be formed comprising concerned officers from both the governments.”  

Delhi Jal Board Dismisses Kejriwal’s Yamuna Claims As ‘Factually Incorrect’

However, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO Shilpa Shinde on Monday dismissed Kejriwal’s claims as “factually incorrect and misleading.” In a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra, she stressed the need to avoid making statements that could harm interstate relations and public confidence. ALSO READ | ‘Factually Incorrect, Misleading’: Delhi Jal Board CEO On Kejriwal’s ‘Haryana Mixing Poison In Yamuna’ Claim

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini had also refuted the allegations, terming them “baseless.” Accusing the AAP government of habitually blaming others for its shortcomings, he said, “The AAP government has a habit of blaming others for its own shortcomings.” He further demanded an apology from Kejriwal, warning of a defamation suit. “People of Haryana consider Yamuna a holy river and worship it. Why would they mix poison in the river?” Saini said in a statement late on Monday.  

The issue of Yamuna’s water quality has emerged as a significant point of contention amid water shortages in parts of Delhi due to reduced treatment capacity at DJB plants. With Assembly elections in Delhi scheduled for February 5 and results to be declared on February 8, the political blame game between AAP and BJP has intensified.