Latest news with #DamSafetyAct2021
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Water sharing row: Punjab govt seeks BBMB revamp, Dam safety Act repeal
Amid the ongoing water dispute with Haryana, the special session of the Punjab assembly was convened on Monday. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Haryana government is trying to steal his state's share of water. "Haryana government and the BJP government are trying to steal Punjab's share of have requested the central government to repeal the Dam Safety Act 2021. This Act comes under Punjab's will not let anyone take Punjab's share of water..." Cheema told ANI. The same sentiments were expressed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on the ongoing dispute. "This is not only about Punjab's right, it is in the interest of the nation. The water used by Punjab is used to supply the whole country with food. If you do not give Punjab's share of water, then how will we be able to provide wheat and grains to the condemn the Dam Safety Act, and a new BBMB should be constituted..." he said. Earlier, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday moved a resolution in the Punjab Legislative Assembly during a special session, vehemently opposing the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) decision to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. Declaring that "not a single drop of extra water" will be spared, Goyal accused the BBMB of acting as a "puppet of the BJP" and conspiring to undermine Punjab's water rights through illegal and unconstitutional means. Goyal outlined key points in the resolution, asserting that Punjab had provided 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana on humanitarian grounds but would not release any additional water from its share. He labelled the BBMB's late-night meeting on April 30 as "illegal" and a deliberate attempt to divert Punjab's rightful water to Haryana. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused Haryana of mismanaging its water allocation from the Bhakra Dam, amidst the ongoing water-sharing dispute between the two states. Mann, in a statement, said, "As per the data, they (Haryana) used up their share by 31st March. Still, we are providing them with drinking water. They will receive water on the night of 20th May. For 15 days, they will have to suffer the consequences of their mistake. We had written six letters to them. There used to be a meeting every month, and we used to write to them every month that their water share would finish this they paid no repealed the Dam Safety Act." Criticising the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Mann added, "BBMB's conduct is dictatorial, this has been strongly has been pointed out that BBMB has become a 'white elephant'; Punjab bears the expenses, but Punjab is bypassed, and decisions are passed. They call meetings at 3-4 hours' notice. But Emergency Meetings also require a week's don't even give 6-7 hours. So, BBMB should be reconstituted.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo 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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Business Standard
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Punjab Assembly passes resolution against sharing water with Haryana
Amid a stand-off between Punjab and Haryana over water-sharing, the Bhagwant Mann government on Monday moved a resolution in the state assembly here vowing not to spare even a single drop of water from its share for the neighbouring state. Punjab's Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal moved the resolution during the special session of the state Assembly, and it was taken up for discussion in the House. Goyal, while reading out the resolution, said the BJP has been trying to take away the rights of Punjab through its governments in Haryana and at the Centre, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). "By calling a meeting of the BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner, an attempt is being made to forcefully provide Punjab's rightful water to Haryana. Haryana has used all its share of water till March 31. Now BJP wants to give the water of Punjab to Haryana," according to the resolution. The resolution said that during the last three years, the Mann government has tried to bring canal water to every farm in Punjab. "A network of canals and water courses has been built on a very large scale. Until 2021, only 22 per cent of Punjab's fields received canal water. But today, around 60 per cent of the fields in Punjab are getting canal water. "This is why every single drop of Punjab's water has become very precious for Punjab. Punjab no longer has any spare water to give to any other state, " said the resolution. After Haryana requested Punjab to release water for drinking purposes on April 6, it showed a big heart and gave 4,000 cusecs of water. "Our Gurus have taught us that giving water to any thirsty person is a great virtue," said the resolution. Goyal, citing the resolution, said the population of Haryana is 3 crore and it needs only 1,700 cusecs of water to meet all drinking and other human needs. "Now, Haryana is saying that they need 8,500 cusecs of water all of a sudden. Punjab does not have extra water to meet its demand. So, BJP forcibly called a meeting of the BBMB in an unconstitutional and illegal manner and passed a resolution that Punjab will have to give its water to Haryana from its own share," he said. "This is not acceptable to us," the resolution said. It highlighted that the government of Punjab will not give even a single drop of water from its share to Haryana. The resolution states that 4,000 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. This House strongly condemns the "illegal and unconstitutional" convening of the BBMB meeting by the BJP, said the resolution. The House also considers the Dam Safety Act 2021 to be an attack on the rights of Punjab, it said. Participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa extended full support to the resolution, asserting that there is not even a single drop to spare. A fresh row erupted over water sharing between the two neighbouring states, with the AAP-ruled Punjab refusing to release more water for the BJP-ruled Haryana. They stressed that Haryana has "already used 103 per cent of the allocated water by March".
Hans India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TG govt to take a decision on NDSA final report soon
Hyderabad: The Telangana government will take a decision on the NDSA (National Dam Safety Authority) final report in the Cabinet meeting soon. The Central government will implement the suggestions made by the NDSA to strengthen the three damaged barrages - Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. The NDSA suggested to the government a comprehensive investigation is essential for implementing the ground improvement efforts for barrages. The extent of geotechnical investigations carried out for design and construction of the three barrages were inadequate to identify the variability of the foundation related geotechnical uncertainties. Referring to the lack of O and M (Operational and Maintenance) Manual for the barrages and non-compliance to the other provisions of the Dam Safety Act 2021 led to suboptimal management of the barrages and the NDSA emphasized the urgency in adherence to the mandates of the Dam Safety Act 2021. The report also concluded with a clear call for a holistic rehabilitation design, advocating for a comprehensive assessment of health and safety of the entire barrage, and immediate stabilization measures to arrest the ongoing distress. The Dam Safety Authority also outlined long term vision in the report stressing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the project's sustainability and resilience against future challenges. Referring to the NDSA final report, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the report on the Kaleshwaram Project was a direct indictment of the previous BRS government, exposing serious flaws in its design, construction, and maintenance. 'The NDSA report clearly stated that the design was faulty, construction was faulty, operation and maintenance were faulty. Soil testing was not done properly, and no proper geophysical investigations were conducted", the Minister said, adding that the three barrages were barely functional. Countering allegations that the NDSA report was politically motivated, Uttam Kumar Reddy clarified that the NDSA is a Central agency comprising the country's top dam safety experts. "The NDSA was constituted when the BRS was still in power. Neither Chief Minister Revanth Reddy nor I appointed it. It is a national body. You should be ashamed that your project was indicted by an institution formed during your own rule," he said. Demanding a public apology from BRS leaders to the farmers of Telangana, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government would thoroughly study the NDSA findings and hold a detailed discussion in the next Cabinet meeting. He reiterated the government's commitment to accountability.
