Countering the statement of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on increasing the Yamuna level in Delhi due to the water released from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, Advisor (Irrigation) Devender Singh to the Chief Minister of Haryana termed the statement of Mr. Kejriwak baseless and beyond facts.
 
Mr. Singh clarified that the structure at Hathnikund is a Barrage designed to divert and regulate the water. Only a dam, not a barrage, can control water in limited quantities. It is also worth noting that, following the Central Water Commission's (CWC's) recommendations, the water discharged into the Yamuna River for the protection of the Hathnikund barrage, is the water which is constantly coming from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to excessive rains. He said that due to this water, Haryana’s several districts were water-logged and suffered heavy loss of property and life. There was no option to release water in limited quantities, he added. According to the guidelines, when more than one lakh cusecs of water come in it, the water automatically goes into the Yamuna river, informed Mr. Singh. If an attempt is made to stop the water coming into the barrage, it can damage all the gates of the barrage and this water can turn into a fierce flood and cause huge destruction in Haryana and Delhi, added the Advisor.
 
Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a letter to Union Home Minister had requested that “if possible, the water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana be released in limited speed” and pointed out that Delhi is set to host the G20 Summit meeting in a few weeks.