New Delhi [India], January 30 (HBTV): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Haryana government to submit a 'factual report' by Tuesday noon following concerns raised by an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation over the alleged rise in ammonia levels in the water supply from Haryana, which AAP leaders claim has adversely affected Delhi's water quality, sources said.

On Monday, an AAP delegation met ECI officials, bringing the issue to the commission's attention. The delegation was led by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had earlier requested an urgent meeting to discuss the matter, sources added.

This development follows a letter written by Atishi and Mann seeking immediate intervention from the ECI.

Earlier in the day, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government of 'poisoning' the water flowing into Delhi.

'BJP's Haryana government has poisoned the water in Yamuna,' Kejriwal told reporters, adding that the vigilance of the Delhi Jal Board had prevented the alleged contaminated water from mixing with the drinking supply.

'If this water had entered Delhi and mixed with the drinking water, many people would have died in Delhi. It could have caused mass genocide,' Kejriwal alleged.

He further claimed that Delhi's water treatment plants were not equipped to process such polluted water. 'It has caused water scarcity in one-third of Delhi,' Kejriwal added.

'The people of Delhi get drinking water from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. In Yamuna, water flows into Delhi from Haryana. However, the Delhi Jal Board was alert enough to stop that water from reaching Delhi. Otherwise, it would have led to mass genocide in Delhi. The BJP government has mixed such a poison in the water that even water treatment plants cannot purify it,' the former Delhi Chief Minister alleged.

The Delhi Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on February 5, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 8. A total of 699 candidates are contesting for the 70 assembly seats.

The Congress, which governed Delhi for 15 consecutive years, suffered major setbacks in the last two assembly elections, failing to win any seats. In contrast, AAP secured landslide victories in 2015 and 2020, winning 67 and 62 seats, respectively, while the BJP managed only three and eight seats in those elections. (ANI)