Is BJP Misusing Power to Steal Punjab's Water?

Chandigarh, April 30 (NationPress) Criticizing the BJP for plotting to deprive Punjab of its water resources through the misuse of authority in Haryana and at the Centre, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted on Wednesday that the state lacks even a single drop of water to spare for any other state.

In a correspondence to his Haryana counterpart, the Chief Minister mentioned that he only learned about Naib Singh Saini's letter through the media, expressing disappointment that someone in such a prominent position is misleading the public by claiming to have guaranteed water to Haryana. He emphasized that this is merely a collection of falsehoods, as no such commitment was ever made, which is unbecoming of an individual holding a constitutional office.

Mann remarked in a statement that while the Chief Minister of Haryana did reach out to him, he did not provide any assurance regarding water to Saini. He reiterated that such a promise could not be made when Punjab has no surplus water to distribute to other states.

The Chief Minister noted that annually, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) allocates water to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, effective from May 21 through May 20 of the following year. He specified that this year, BBMB allocated 3.318 MAF, 2.987 MAF, and 5.512 MAF of water to Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, respectively.

Mann pointed out that the Haryana BJP administration had exhausted its water allocation by March 31, leading to the current crisis. He mentioned that the Haryana government subsequently requested assistance from Punjab, indicating they lacked sufficient water for their citizens' drinking needs. In a humanitarian response, the Punjab government generously provided 4,000 cusecs of water daily to Haryana starting April 6.

He remarked that although Haryana has a population of three crores, estimates suggest that 1,700 cusecs of water would suffice to meet the state's requirements. However, the Chief Minister noted that Haryana has requested 2.5 times its actual need from Punjab. Despite this disparity, Punjab has been supplying water since April, even when Haryana recently claimed that the provided amount was inadequate, asking for an additional 8,500 cusecs daily.

Mann emphasized, "It is clear that this water is primarily needed for agricultural purposes, and this situation has arisen due to Haryana's mismanagement of its water allocation." He highlighted that Punjab is already facing challenges with agricultural water shortages as groundwater levels are declining across the state.

He concluded by stating that the water levels in dams are at historic lows, with the levels at Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam being 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet lower, respectively, compared to last year. Mann insisted that every drop of water is invaluable for Punjab, and there is no possibility of sharing water with other states.