Punjab ministers join AAP's Nangal Dam protest against BBMB over water row

Punjab Cabinet Ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO (Minister for Power) and Laljit Singh Bhullar (Minister for Transport) on Tuesday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers in a protest at Nangal Dam against the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)’s decision to release water from Punjab’s share to Haryana.

Addressing the gathering, Harbhajan Singh ETO blamed previous Punjab state governments for failing to address the exploitation of Punjab's water share in BBMB projects. He argued that the state had suffered both ecologically and economically due to the unfair distribution of river water from these projects.

The minister also criticised the previous administrations for prioritising tubewell irrigation over canal water, which led to the depletion of Punjab's groundwater reserves. Additionally, he pointed out that the state had borne the economic burden of providing free power for these tubewells.

He further stated that the current Punjab Government has allocated a budget of Rs 4,500 crore to revive surface water irrigation in the state. With the canal irrigation system now restored, Punjab requires its full quota of water from the BBMB.

Despite Haryana having consumed its allocated share of water from the BBMB as agreed until May 20, Punjab was still providing 4,000 cusecs of water per day to Haryana for drinking water schemes on humanitarian grounds, he added.

However, the minister alleged that BBMB authorities, backed by the BJP-led Central Government, are attempting to pressure Punjab into releasing additional water to Haryana. He asserted that Punjab will not succumb to such pressure or surrender its rightful share of water from BBMB projects.