Punjab Vidhan Sabha today passed a resolution saying it will not give any additional water to Haryana from the Bhakra dam. At the same time, the official resolution passed unanimously by the House today said that “… the House considers the Dam Safety Act, 2021, to be an attack on the rights of Punjab.”
At the time the resolution was passed, Congress MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, demanded that the state government itself make a Dam Safety Act of its own, as water is a state subject. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured him a state act would soon be drafted.
A central legislation, the Dam Safety Act, 2021, was promulgated to ensure the safety of dams and prevent disasters. It establishes a comprehensive framework for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of dams.
It ensures that all stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities and that dams are operated and maintained as per laid down standards and protocols, and also provides for protecting downstream communities and the environment from the consequences of dam failure.
The Act applies to specified dams, especially those exceeding 15 meters in height and those between 10-15 meters meeting certain design and structural conditions. It establishes a multi-tiered system for dam safety that includes —
National Committee on Dam Safety, headed by the chairman of Central Water Commission, that is responsible for evolving uniform dam safety policies and recommending necessary regulations;
National Dam Safety Authority, which is a regulatory body for implementing dam safety policies and resolving disputes between State Dam Safety Organisations and dam owners;
State Committee on Dam Safety in each of the states concerned; and
State Dam Safety Organisations, which are responsible for surveillance, inspection and monitoring of dams within their respective state.
Amid a stand-off between Punjab and Haryana over water-sharing, the Bhagwant Mann government on Monday moved a resolution in the state assembly here vowing not to spare even a single drop of water from its share for the neighbouring state.
Punjab's Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal moved the resolution during the special session of the state assembly, and it was taken up for discussion in the House.
Goyal, while reading out the resolution, said the BJP has been trying to take away the rights of Punjab through its governments in Haryana and at the Centre, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
"By calling a meeting of the BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner, an attempt is being made to forcefully provide Punjab's rightful water to Haryana. Haryana has used all its share of water till March 31. Now BJP wants to give the water of Punjab to Haryana," according to the resolution.
The resolution said that during the last three years, the Mann government has tried to bring canal water to every farm in Punjab.
"A network of canals and water courses has been built on a very large scale. Until 2021, only 22 per cent of Punjab's fields received canal water. But today, around 60 per cent of the fields in Punjab are getting canal water.
"This is why every single drop of Punjab's water has become very precious for Punjab. Punjab no longer has any spare water to give to any other state, " said the resolution.
After Haryana requested Punjab to release water for drinking purposes on April 6, it showed a big heart and gave 4,000 cusecs of water. "Our Gurus have taught us that giving water to any thirsty person is a great virtue," said the resolution.
Goyal, citing the resolution, said the population of Haryana is 3 crore and it needs only 1,700 cusecs of water to meet all drinking and other human needs.
"Now, Haryana is saying that they need 8,500 cusecs of water all of a sudden. Punjab does not have extra water to meet its demand. So, BJP forcibly called a meeting of the BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner and passed a resolution that Punjab will have to give its water to Haryana from its own share," he said.
"This is not acceptable to us," the resolution said.
It highlighted that the government of Punjab will not give even a single drop of water from its share to Haryana.
The resolution states that 4,000 cusecs of water that is being given to Haryana for drinking purposes will be continued as a matter of humanity, but not even a drop more will be given.
This House strongly condemns the "illegal and unconstitutional" convening of the BBMB meeting by the BJP, said the resolution. The House also considers the Dam Safety Act 2021 to be an attack on the rights of Punjab, it said.
Participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa extended full support to the resolution, asserting that there is not even a single drop to spare.
Full text of the Resolution
May 5, 2025 2:38 pm
For the past few days, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to take away the rights of Punjab through its Haryana government, Central Government and BBMB. By calling a meeting of BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner, an attempt is being made to forcibly provide Punjab's rightful water to Haryana. Haryana has used all its share of water till March 31. Now the BJP wants to give the water of Punjab to Haryana. During the last three years, the Bhagwant Mann government has tried to bring canal water to every farm in Punjab. A network of canals and water courses has been built on a very large scale. Until 2021, only 22% of Punjab's fields received canal water. But today around 60% of the fields in Punjab are getting canal water. This is why every single drop of Punjab's water has become very precious for Punjab. Punjab no longer has any spare water to give to any other state. Haryana requested Punjab on April 6 that they need water for drinking purposes. Punjab showed a big heart and gave 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana because our gurus have taught us that giving water to any thirsty person is a great virtue. The population of Haryana is 3 crore and it needs only 1,700 cusecs of water to meet all drinking and other needs. Now Haryana is saying that they need 8,500 cusecs of water all of a sudden. Punjab does not have extra water to meet their demand. So the BJP forcibly called a meeting of the BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner and passed a resolution that Punjab will have to give its water to Haryana from its own share. This is not acceptable to us. So this House today resolves unanimously that: 1. Government of Punjab will not give even a single drop of water from its share to Haryana. The 4,000 cusecs of water that is being given to Haryana for drinking purpose will be continued as a matter of humanity- but not even a drop more will be given. 2. This House strongly condemns the illegal and unconstitutional convening of the BBMB meeting by the Bharatiya Janata Party. 3. At present, the BBMB has become a mere puppet of the BJP government at the Centre. In the meetings of BBMB neither Punjab is being listened to nor are the rights of Punjab being taken care of. So the BBMB should be reorganised so that the rights of Punjab can be protected. 4. The Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers pass through only Punjab. Then on what basis is their water being given to other states? In 1981, when the agreement to share the water of these rivers was signed between the states, the amount of water in the rivers that was written in the agreement and the amount of water that was distributed amongst states was much more than the actual water now available in these rivers. Because of this, a new agreement should be made for sharing the water of these rivers. 5. In order to call any meeting of BBMB, the law provides that a notice for minimum number of days is required to be given for each type of meeting. BBMB does not follow this law and convenes illegal meetings at night. This House directs BBMB to follow the law laid down in this regard. 6. Which state will get how much water is clearly written in the 1981 treaty, BBMB has no power to change it. If BBMB gives the share of water of one state to another state by simply convening a meeting, then such decisions of BBMB are illegal and unconstitutional. BBMB should refrain from taking such illegal decisions. 7. This House also considers the Dam Safety Act, 2021, to be an attack on the rights of Punjab. This law fully empowers the central government to directly control the rivers and dams of the states, even if the dam is entirely within the state's borders. This is against India's federal structure and directly undermines the sovereign right of states like Punjab over their water. Therefore, this House demands from the Central Government that the Dam Safety Act be repealed immediately and Government of Punjab rejects the Act completely."
Haryana 'already used 103 pc of allocated water': Punjab
May 5, 2025 1:16 pm
The water sharing issue between Punjab and Haryana escalated after the AAP government refused to allow the release of more water to the neighbouring state, even as the Nayab Singh Saini-led dispensation in Haryana resolved to safeguard the state's rightful share of water. The Punjab government maintains that Haryana has "already used 103 per cent of the allocated water by March".
Bajwa assures support
May 5, 2025 12:40 pm
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa assures support to govt on the issue of saving of river waters.
BJP MLA objects to naming party in resolution
May 5, 2025 12:20 pm
BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma objects to naming party in the resolution. Congress president Raja Warring also in the Governor’s box.
Goyal warns BBMB against giving Punjab’s waters to other states
May 5, 2025 12:14 pm
Water recourses minister Goyal demands that BBMB be reconstituted and non-riparian states should not get the water from Bhakra dam. The House directs BBMB to follow the procedure for calling the meeting of the Board. He also warns the BBMB against giving Punjab’s waters to any other state and condemns the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and seeks that this be recalled, says the Act violates the state’s rights.
Punjab will not give any of its water: Goyal
May 5, 2025 12:09 pm
Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal starts reading the resolution to be discussed in the House, saying Punjab will not give any of its water to any state.
Special session of Vidhan Sabha begins after obituary references
May 5, 2025 12:07 pm
The special session of Vidhan Sabha begins after it concluded within seven minutes, after all MLAs observed a two-minute silence for the departed souls. Two AAP MPs --Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Malwinder Singh Kang are also present in the Speakers Gallery. Former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur is also present, but in the visitors gallery.
Punjab Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on BBMB row
May 5, 2025 11:32 am
Pays tributes
May 5, 2025 11:28 am
Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that the House condemns the violence unleashed on the unsuspecting innocent tourists. “The House hopes that the central and state governments (referring to the J&K government) will do all within their power to bring the culprits to book and ensure such horrific incidents are never repeated,” he said. Other than this, the House also paid tributes to former MP from Punjab Master Bhagat Ram and former minister Randhir Singh Cheema.
