CM Mann to raise PU Senate, water issues at zonal council meet today

The now-withdrawn restructuring of the Panjab University Senate, control over Punjab’s river waters and maintaining the state’s 60 per cent share in the Chandigarh Administration posts will remain the prime focus of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at the Northern Zonal Council Meeting to be held at Faridabad on Monday.

The meeting will be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Chief Ministers and Administrators of all constituent states and UTs, including Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab, will participate in the meeting.

Since the issue of restructuring of the PU Senate, which caused a political storm in Punjab, with all political parties terming it an attack on the federal rights of the state, CM Mann will raise the state’s objections during the meeting. He is likely to demand a status quo and early elections to the Senate.

While the issue of Punjab’s exclusive right to Chandigarh is unlikely to be raised at the meeting, the CM will demand that the balance created at the time of reorganisation of states in 1966, be maintained, with Punjab Government employees continuing to get 60 per cent posts in the Chandigarh Administration. Over the past few years, several posts, which were earlier held by officials from Punjab, are now being filled by UT/AGMUT cadre officers.

But the most important issue to be taken up at the meeting will be the state’s opposition to the Rajasthan Government’s proposal to transfer the control of Ropar, Harike and Ferozepur headworks to the BBMB, confirmed sources in the Chief Minister’s Office.

After the stand-off with the BBMB earlier this year, over the release of additional water to Haryana after the neighbouring state had exhausted its share of water drawn from the dam, the Punjab Government is unwilling to lose control over the release of water from the dam.

The issue of CISF deployment at the Bhakra Dam by replacing the Punjab Police, is also likely to be taken up. The Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal, which has been the bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana for decades, will also be discussed, with Punjab maintaining that it has no water to spare for Haryana.

Instead, the state will once again demand share from the Yamuna waters. Mann will also oppose the attempts by the Centre to appoint members from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to the BBMB. He will also oppose Rajasthan demand for the release of 0.60 MAF water from the Ravi-Beas and also 0.17 MAF from the Bhakra Mainline canal.

The issue of finding a permanent solution to prevent flooding by the Ghaggar during the monsoon will also be raised. The river meanders through Punjab and Haryana and both states will have to arrive at a common platform to manage flooding caused by the river.

Also on agenda

Attempts by the Centre to appoint members from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to the BBMB

CISF deployment at the Bhakra Dam by replacing the Punjab Police

Finding a permanent solution to prevent flooding by the Ghaggar during the monsoon

Continuation of 60% quota in Chandigarh Administration posts and control over river waters