Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ignited a significant political storm and social media backlash after offering a unique explanation for the national capital's escalating water crisis. Addressing a BJP party event, CM Gupta suggested that the intense heatwave causes supplied water to simply vanish into thin air on its journey to homes, leading to the severe shortage.
CM's 'Evaporation Theory' Goes Viral
“When the heat is so intense, some of the water that is supplied evaporates on the way. Because of that, Delhi is facing a water shortage,” CM Gupta stated, as a video clip of her remarks rapidly circulated across social media platforms. This 'evaporation theory' triggered immediate criticism and sharp political satire from opposition leaders.
Former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj sarcastically commented online, “Water evaporation is the cause of water shortage in Delhi. So 'Condensation' should be upcoming solution.” Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak also joined the chorus of criticism, taking a clear jibe at the Chief Minister's logic as the online debate intensified.
Ground Reality: Low Barrage Levels and Production Cuts
While the Chief Minister points to atmospheric evaporation, the actual situation on the ground for Delhi residents is far more critical. The water level at the Wazirabad barrage has plummeted to approximately 669.5 feet, significantly below its normal level of 674.5 feet.
This drastic drop has compelled the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to drastically reduce production at two of its crucial water treatment plants, Wazirabad and Chandrawal, due to a severe shortage of raw water supply. Consequently, water availability has been severely squeezed across North, West, and parts of South Delhi.
Areas like Dakshinpuri in South Delhi are particularly affected, where soaring temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius exacerbate the crisis for an estimated 5,000 local residents. The desperation is so acute that many women working as domestic help are now forced to seek permission from their employers to bathe at their workplaces.
Past Controversies of CM Gupta
This is not the first instance where Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has faced public backlash and opposition ridicule over her explanations. In December 2025, during an interview regarding the city's severe winter pollution, she referred to the Air Quality Index (AQI) as “AIQ” and described it as “a kind of temperature which can be measured by any instrument.” This statement led to widespread mockery and criticism from environmental activists and opposition parties.
Earlier, in January during the Delhi Assembly's Winter Session, CM Gupta also caused a historical dispute. She mistakenly linked the actions of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh to a “Congress government,” prompting AAP leaders to stage protests and release satirical videos, highlighting that Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev had targeted British colonial rule decades before India's independence.