Not a single drop' of water extra for Haryana: Punjab resolution
Chandigarh: The Punjab assembly unanimously passed a resolution during the special session of the
House
on Monday to not spare even a "single drop of water from its share to
Haryana
." The resolution also sought reorganisation of the
Bhakra Beas Management Board
(BBMB), scrapping of the Dam Safety Act 2021, and a new river water-sharing pact.
After an over three-hour discussion, the resolution was passed by voice vote. When the Speaker was conducting voting, BJP's
Ashwani Sharma
objected to the naming of his party in the resolution, which evoked sharp reactions from the treasury benches. However, when the speaker again conducted voting, Sharma did not raise any objection.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, meanwhile, informed that the state govt was working on its own draft Bill to replace the Dam Safety Act, and it would be tabled in the assembly soon. The special session comes amidst escalating tensions over water sharing, with Punjab accusing the BJP of attempting to unfairly seize its rightful water through the Haryana govt, the Centre, and the BBMB.
Although the opposition supported the resolution, the treasury benches attacked Congress and BJP by bringing up past decisions, including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's 1981 intervention with CM Darbara Singh to withdraw the Supreme Court petition, her 1982 launch of the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal at Kapoori, and former CM Parkash Singh Badal's 1978 SYL notification on SYL.
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Congress leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Shiromani Akali Dal's Manpreet Singh Ayali, Nacchatar Pal of Bahujan Samaj Party, and independent MLA Inder Partap Singh Rana supported the resolution during the discussion.
' HARYANA HAS ALREADY UTILISED SHARE'
While moving the resolution, Barinder Kumar Goyal, minister of water resources, said, "The Punjab govt will not give even a single drop of water from its share to Haryana. The 4000 cusecs of water that is being given to Haryana for drinking purposes will be continued as a matter of humanity, but not even a drop more will be given."
The resolution detailed Punjab's concerns, claiming that Haryana had already utilised its allocated water share until March 31. Goyal alleged that the BJP was orchestrating an "unconstitutional and illegal" meeting of the BBMB to forcefully divert Punjab's water to Haryana.
While acknowledging a recent humanitarian gesture of providing 4000 cusecs of water to Haryana for drinking purposes following a request on April 6, the resolution said that no further water will be provided. It pointed out that Haryana's demand had suddenly surged to 8500 cusecs, far exceeding the estimated 1700 cusecs needed for drinking and other human needs for its 3 crore population.
Highlighting the increased reliance on canal water in Punjab due to the state govt's efforts over the past three years, Goyal said the canal irrigation had been expanded from 22% of fields in 2021 to approximately 60% today. "That is why every single drop of Punjab's water has become precious for Punjab. The state no longer has any spare water to give to any other state," said Goyal.
REORGANISE BBMB
The resolution alleged that the present BBMB had become a "mere puppet" of the BJP-led Centre. "The House strongly condemns the illegal and unconstitutional convening of the BBMB meeting. In the meetings of BBMB, neither Punjab is being listened to nor are the rights of Punjab being taken care of. So BBMB should be reorganised so that the rights of Punjab can be protected," it said.
The House directed BBMB to follow the law laid down for giving notice of a minimum number of days for each type of meeting in this regard.
The resolution further said, "Which state will get how much water is clearly written in the 1981 treaty, BBMB has no power to change it. If BBMB gives the share of water of one state to another state by simply convening a meeting, then such decisions of BBMB are illegal and unconstitutional..."
DAM SAFETY BILL: 'ATTACK ON PUNJAB'S RIGHTS'
The resolution said that the House also considers the Dam Safety Act, 2021, to be an "attack on the rights of Punjab." It also labelled the Act a violation of India's federal structure. "This law fully empowers the Centre to directly control the rivers and dams of the states, even if the dam is entirely within the state's borders... Therefore, this House demands from the central govt that the Dam Safety Act 2021 be repealed immediately, and Govt of Punjab rejects the Act completely," it read.
CALL FOR FRESH RIVER WATER-SHARING PACT
The members also criticised the water-sharing agreement signed in 1981 between the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan for Satluj, Ravi, and Beas, based on assessment of the water availability in these rivers at that time.
The resolution said, "Satluj, Ravi and Beas rivers pass through only Punjab. On what basis is water being given to other states? In 1981, when the agreement to share the water of these rivers was signed between the states, the amount of water in the rivers mentioned in the agreement and the amount of water that was distributed amongst states was much more than the actual water now available in these rivers. Because of this, a new agreement should be made for sharing the water of these rivers."
RESOLUTION ACCUSES BJP
Citing the functioning of the BBMB, the resolution also hit out at the BJP. It read, "For the past few days, the BJP has been trying to take away the rights of Punjab through its Haryana govt, the Centre and BBMB. By calling a meeting of BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner, an attempt is being made to forcefully provide Punjab's rightful water to Haryana."
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