Punjab doesn’t have spare riverwater for other states: CM tells tribunal team

Punjab does not have a single drop of spare water to share with other states, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann told members of the Ravi-Beas Water Tribunal on Wednesday. The tribunal members are on a three-day visit of the state.

During a meeting with the tribunal team led by its Chairman Justice Vineet Saran, the CM said reassessment of the availability of water is required as per international norms.

Man said 117 out of 153 blocks in the state were over-exploited while in neighbouring Haryana, only 88 out of 143 blocks fall in the category.

He said as most of the river resources of the state have “dried up”, it needs more water to cater to its irrigation needs.

Mann said the Punjab government is duty bound to ensure that the interests of the state and its people are safeguarded by all means and no stone will be left unturned for it.

The Chief Minister said like the both rivers, the Yamuna also flowed through the state’s territory before Haryana was carved out of it but while apportioning riverwater between both states, Yamuna waters were not considered.

Mann said Haryana is not the basin state Ravi and Beas but Punjab is forced to share water of these rivers with Haryana.

If Haryana gets Ravi-Beas waters, on the same analogy, Yamuna waters should also be shared with Punjab, he said.

Mann slams ‘bonhomie’ among Opposition politicians

The Chief Minister took a swipe at political leaders who attended a function linked to the marriage of the daughter of former Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, saying they always “embrace each other” in private while posing as bitter foes in public.

In a statement, Mann also slammed the bonhomie between Sukhbir and Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar at the function held on Monday in Chandigarh.

“They were seen feasting while food growers of the state were fasting to get their rights,” Mann said apparently taking a dig at the snapping of the SAD-BJP ties during a farmers’ stir on Delhi borders in 2020-21 against three central farm law, which were later withdrawn by the BJP-led Centre.