Will give up life, but not Punjab’s water: Capt

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he was ready to give up his life but not the state’s “scarce” water resources to other states.

Wrapping up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address, the Chief Minister declared that Punjab did not have surplus water and, in line with the internationally accepted riparian principles, would not allow transfer of water from basin to non-basin areas.

He said his government would continue to work on protecting the water rights of Punjab to safeguard the livelihood of millions of Punjabi farmers and landless farm labourers. Punjab was not given its due when all resources were divided in 60:40 ratio between Punjab and Haryana under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, the Chief Minister claimed, adding that water of Punjab’s three rivers was taken away but the state was not given any share from the Yamuna.

Referring to the various measures taken by his government for saving the state’s precious water resources, the Chief Minister said that apart from enactment of the Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act 2020, the government had also piloted a unique project, ‘Pani Bachao Paisa Kamao’, aimed at incentivising farmers to save water and earn money by consuming less ground water.

The project under which agriculture consumers are given fixed electricity entitlement for every month of the year and no bills are issued to the farmers would be expanded under Budget 2020-21, he said.

‘Pay panel report to be implemented soon’

Capt Amarinder Singh said the work on implementing the Sixth Pay Commission was in progress. It would be done soon, hopefully this year itself, he assured the House. Around 3.5 lakh govt and 1.5 lakh semi-govt staffers, besides 4 lakh pensioners, are likely to benefit.

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