BBMB CANNOT RELEASE WATER TO HARYANA BY IGNORING PUNJAB: CM
Nangal (Rupnagar), May 1-
Reiterating that Punjab has no surplus water to share with anyone, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday unequivocally said that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) cannot dictate terms to the state and release water to Haryana.
Interacting with the media persons here, the Chief Minister said that Haryana has already utilized 16000 cusec of additional water rather than its allotted share. However, he said that the Rajasthan and Haryana government have joined hands to rob the waters of the state and BBMB has illegally decided to release 8500 cusec of water, which cannot be tolerated. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has 60% share in BBMB and this decision of the board is arbitrary, dictatorial and undemocratic.
The Chief Minister said that BBMB has no right to release the water by ignoring Punjab and its interests adding that this will not be allowed at any cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as a farmer protects his share of water every moment in the same manner being a custodian of state and its water he is here to inspect the arrangements so that no one steals waters of Punjab. He said that the state government will not allow anyone to rob the waters of the state and elaborate arrangements have been already put in place in this regard.
The Chief Minister warned the Union government, state governments of Haryana and Rajasthan along with BBMB that this policy of repression will not work in Punjab. He said that Punjab will vehemently oppose any such move which is aimed at snatching its water as being an agrarian state it is the lifeline of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that if the centre does not stop for hatching such conspiracies then it should forget that Punjab will give paddy to the country for the Public Distribution System.
The Chief Minister unequivocally said that the states of Haryana and Rajasthan are allotted share in water of the state from a cycle of May 21 to May 20 every year. However, he said that the state of Haryana has utilised all the water in its share in the month of March this year due to which they are now trying to grab some more water by robbing Punjab of its water. Giving data, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that hitherto Haryana has used 103% of its allocated water and now the BJP is pressurizing Punjab to release more water to Haryana.
The Chief Minister said that there is no question of succumbing to the pressure of the on this issue as it is concerned with the farmers of the state. He said that instead of playing these unlawful games the Union government should divert the waters of Chenab, Jhelum, Ujh and other rivers to the state after cancelling the much hyped Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the surplus water saved from this treaty can be supplied to the entire northern region for catering to the needs ahead of the paddy season.
The Chief Minister said that as the Haryana government had urged Punjab that they don’t even have water to cater to the drinking needs of people. He said that as a humanitarian gesture the Punjab government generously allotted 4000 cusec of water daily to Haryana from April 6, 2025. Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted that Punjab is already grappling with shortage of water for agricultural purposes as the groundwater is receding across the state.
The Chief Minister said that the level of water in the dam has been recorded all time low and water level at Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam is 32 feet, 12 feet and 14 feet low respectively as compared to last year. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every single drop of water is precious for the state and there is no question of sharing the water with any other state. He categorically said that BJP through its government in Haryana and center is trying to suppress the state and it is unfortunate that BBMB is passing new resolutions everyday to snatch a share of Punjab’s water.
The Chief Minister said that his government is contemplating on convening an all Party meeting over this issue so that interests of the state can be safeguarded. Likewise, he said that Punjab is also mulling to call a special session of the state assembly to discuss the issue fully. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed to protect the waters of the state as the state does not have even a single drop of spare water to share with any other state.
The Chief Minister said that it is surprising that top BJP leaders including Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, state BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar and Manpreet Singh Badal are mum over the entire issue. He said that this is the time when these leaders must prove their loyalty towards the state by raising this issue of injustice at centre. He said that either these leaders must resign or they should join the state government for protecting the waters of the state adding that it is shameful that these leaders are maintaining stoic silence over the issue.
The Chief Minister quipped that it is ironic that another BJP leader and self proclaimed protector of waters Captain Amarinder Singh is tightlipped over the issue. He said that Captain Amarinder Singh was the savior of water only in papers whereas in reality these leaders never did anything tangible for Punjab and its people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders used to release upto 25% of excess water to Haryana and other states for their vested political and personal interests.
On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and others were also present.
