CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday drew a firm line on the state’s river waters, declaring that not a single drop of Punjab’s rightful share would be surrendered as the Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution asserting the state’s rights. Vowing to fight from courts to streets, he questioned Rajasthan’s continued access to Punjab’s water without payment, pegged the state’s outstanding royalty claim at ₹1.43 lakh crore, and asserted that Rajasthan and Haryana had no share in the waters of the Ravi and Beas.
The Chief Minister pointed out his government is strengthening the state’s own irrigation network, expanding canal water access from 22% to 80% of fields in four years and laying 14,000 km of underground pipelines.
Participating in discussions on resolutions concerning river waters and other important issues on the final day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab would no longer tolerate injustice in the distribution of its precious water resources. “Water is a state subject, and the control of headworks rests with the states. Punjab will vigorously pursue its legitimate rights and will not allow the state’s interests to be sacrificed,” he affirmed.
Questioning Haryana’s claim over Ravi-Beas waters, the Chief Minister said, “It is unfair that Haryana stakes its claim over Ravi-Beas waters while Punjab’s rightful share in Yamuna waters is ignored, despite the Yamuna being part of undivided Punjab.”
The Chief Minister asserted that the government would pursue every legitimate avenue to protect Punjab’s water rights and secure justice for its people.
