Set up fresh riverwater tribunal: CM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 15

Expressing concern over the water crisis in Northern India, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support in his effort to upgrade water distribution infrastructure in the state, as he also called for setting up of a fresh river waters tribunal to address the disputes among neighbouring states in view of their dwindling water availability.

In his speech, which was circulated at the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council meeting, which he could not attend owing to his bad health, the CM called upon the Prime Minister to provide a one-time debt waiver to mitigate the distress of indebted farmers.

The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to increase the annual assistance under PM-KISAN from Rs 6000 to Rs 12,000 and also include farm workers under the scheme.

Capt Amarinder, in his written speech, also thanked the NITI Aayog for acknowledging the state’s initiative — Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao. He also mentioned that the state government was taking several urgent measures to reduce consumption and conserve water, improve the efficiency of water utilisation and improve water infrastructure in the State.

Highlighting the need for proper development of Punjab’s border areas, which was a “national responsibility”, the Chief Minister regretted that the Centre had not taken any action on the state’s similar demand, for a special package for border areas, which it had raised in the last two meetings.

He also called for greater interstate cooperation to effectively tackle cross-border crimes and demanded increase in the deployment of paramilitary forces along the Punjab border as well as a special financial assistance package for upgrading police stations in the border areas.