Punjab demands Rs 1.44 lakh crore in unpaid water dues from Rajasthan
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says Rajasthan has not paid water usage charges since 1960
The Punjab government has claimed unpaid water usage dues worth Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for supplying water through the Gang Canal via the Ferozepur Feeder.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Rajasthan had not paid water usage charges since 1960.
He said that 18,000 cusecs of water are being supplied from Punjab under a tripartite agreement signed on September 4, 1920, between the British Government, Bahawalpur State, and Bikaner State.
“For the last 66 years, Rajasthan has not paid for the water. We have written to Rajasthan to settle the pending dues, and we will take the issue to its logical conclusion,” Mann said while addressing a press conference highlighting the achievements of the irrigation department over the past four years.
The CM added that since the 1920 agreement had been cancelled, Rajasthan should be paying the outstanding amount. He also criticized the previous state government for failing to protect Punjab’s interests in this matter.
