The Supreme Court today directed the Delhi government to seek water supply from the Upper Yamuna River Board as Himachal Pradesh took a U-turn and told the top court that it did not have surplus water to spare.

A vacation bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale issued the directive. The Delhi government must submit an application to the Yamuna River Board by 5 pm, requesting water on humanitarian grounds.

This decision came after Himachal Pradesh withdrew its earlier statement of having a surplus of 136 cusecs of water.