Giving in to unrelenting pressure from seers congregated at the banks of Haridwar for Mahakumbh 2010, the Uttarakhand government has finally released the water from the Tehri hydel power project ahead of the Shahi Snan on April 14.

While the released water would ensure that Mahants, saints, their supporters and million others have their 'holy dip' in the brimming Ganga, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other neighbouring states would have to live with a 'dip' in their supply of water for drinking and irrigation this summer.

The Tehri project accounts for 30% of Delhi’s drinking water and 40% of UP’s irrigation water supply.

Akhil Bhartiya Akhand Parishad, the chief organizing body of the mega congregation, had issued on March 26 an ultimatum to the Uttarakhand chief minister to scrap all the hydel projects or face a walkout of the all the holy men before the Shahi Snan.

Meanwhile, the top brass of the BJP, including party veteran L K Advani, former president Rajnath Singh and senior leader Arun Jaitely, has been making a beeline for Haridwar to seek the blessings of seers and saints.