Told Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal difference between barrage and dam: Haryana CM Khattar

Training guns at BJP, Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "The BJP-led governments in Centre and Haryana are conspiring against the people of Delhi. They are deliberately attempting to cause a flood in Delhi. The question that arises is that if it has not been raining in Delhi, how is it that the water level in the Yamuna is a metre higher than the previous record high in 1978?"

"From July 9 to 13, water was deliberately released towards Delhi as part of a conspiracy. Last year, in August, water was not only released towards Delhi but the eastern and western canals as well. The flow was evenly distributed between multiple states, because of which there was no flood in Delhi," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Responding to the accusation, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had been explained about the difference between a barrage and a dam.

"The region has received more rain than was expected or forecast. Rainfall in the hilly areas led to water levels increasing in our rivers. The Yamuna had 1 lakh cusecs of water, which went up to 3.7 lakh cusecs the next day. We had told Mr Kejriwal that it is a barrage, not a dam. A dam can stop water, a barrage can store it," Khattar said.

He added that water can be regulated in the barrage to a certain extent but it has a capacity of 1 lakh cusecs. "If the water crosses that level, it will naturally have to be released," Khattar said.

The blame game between BJP and AAP started just a day after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister held a joint press conference and stressed on the need to work together as a team.

"Right now, we need to work as a team. I can also say a lot of things but this is not what we should do at this time," the LG had said.

"This is such a crisis when humans should help other humans. There's no use abusing one another. BJP has been abusing me since yesterday. Let them do it, doesn't matter to me," Kejriwal had said.

However, this message did not have any effect on Delhi government functionaries as AAP ministers stepped up their attack on the BJP over the release of water from the Hathni Kund barrage.