NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday urged the Centre to step in to resolve water related issues between Punjab and Haryana evn as he denounced the Centre over deployment of CISF at the Bhakra Nangal dam. He also sought Rs 2,829 crore grant to check drug trafficking and upscale border security, and install 50 additional jamming systems to counter drones on the 553 km border with Pakistan.
Sources said that while participating in the Niti Aayog’s Governing Council meeting Mann suggested that Centre can convene a meeting between him and his Haryana counterpart on the matters relating to water sharing as they “don’t want to politicise” this.
Punjab and Haryana have been at loggerheads over the distribution of water with the AAP govt refusing to share water from Bhakra dam, saying the neighbouring state has already used its share of water.
As per an official statement issued by Punjab govt, Mann also flagged the water sharing dispute with Haryana and a “biased” approach against Punjab. It added that the CM reiterated that Punjab has no surplus water for any state. “Asserting that in wake of grim situation of water in the state Yamuna-Sutlej-Link (YSL) canal should be considered for construction instead of the Satluj-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal, Mann said that Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers are already in deficit and water should be diverted from surplus to deficit basins,” the statement said.
It added that Punjab has repeatedly requested to be included in negotiations for the allocation of Yamuna waters as a pact for YSL Project was signed between the erstwhile Punjab and Uttar Pradesh on March 12, 1954 which entitled the erstwhile Punjab to two-third of the Yamuna water. The agreement did not specify the area to be irrigated by Yamuna, he said, adding that before the re-organisation, the Yamuna, like the Ravi and Beas flowed through Punjab.
Alleging a “biased” approach of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Mann claimed Punjab had been liberal in sharing water with the partner states to meet their drinking water and other needs, even as the state relied upon its groundwater reserves to meet its demands, particularly to irrigate the paddy. He added that now with the upgraded canal structure, Punjab is running short of water and even its share from the rivers is not enough to meet its needs.
Mann alleged that the BBMB, despite repeated requests, did not advise other partner states to regulate the release of water to Haryana, and as a result, it exhausted its share by March 30.
In his address, CM said that on humanitarian grounds, Punjab decided to release 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana. However, BBMB ignored the state’s interests and decided to release 8,500 cusecs of water to its neighbour despite serious objections. He called this action against the spirit and provisions of the law and sought BBMB be advised to restrain itself and act within the law.
Sources said that while participating in the Niti Aayog’s Governing Council meeting Mann suggested that Centre can convene a meeting between him and his Haryana counterpart on the matters relating to water sharing as they “don’t want to politicise” this.
Punjab and Haryana have been at loggerheads over the distribution of water with the AAP govt refusing to share water from Bhakra dam, saying the neighbouring state has already used its share of water.
As per an official statement issued by Punjab govt, Mann also flagged the water sharing dispute with Haryana and a “biased” approach against Punjab. It added that the CM reiterated that Punjab has no surplus water for any state. “Asserting that in wake of grim situation of water in the state Yamuna-Sutlej-Link (YSL) canal should be considered for construction instead of the Satluj-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal, Mann said that Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers are already in deficit and water should be diverted from surplus to deficit basins,” the statement said.
It added that Punjab has repeatedly requested to be included in negotiations for the allocation of Yamuna waters as a pact for YSL Project was signed between the erstwhile Punjab and Uttar Pradesh on March 12, 1954 which entitled the erstwhile Punjab to two-third of the Yamuna water. The agreement did not specify the area to be irrigated by Yamuna, he said, adding that before the re-organisation, the Yamuna, like the Ravi and Beas flowed through Punjab.
Alleging a “biased” approach of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Mann claimed Punjab had been liberal in sharing water with the partner states to meet their drinking water and other needs, even as the state relied upon its groundwater reserves to meet its demands, particularly to irrigate the paddy. He added that now with the upgraded canal structure, Punjab is running short of water and even its share from the rivers is not enough to meet its needs.
Mann alleged that the BBMB, despite repeated requests, did not advise other partner states to regulate the release of water to Haryana, and as a result, it exhausted its share by March 30.
In his address, CM said that on humanitarian grounds, Punjab decided to release 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana. However, BBMB ignored the state’s interests and decided to release 8,500 cusecs of water to its neighbour despite serious objections. He called this action against the spirit and provisions of the law and sought BBMB be advised to restrain itself and act within the law.
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