Punjab Assembly passes resolution: No water for Haryana

Chandigarh

Amid escalating tensions over water-sharing, the Punjab government has moved a resolution in the state assembly, asserting that it will not provide a single drop of its water to Haryana. This move comes as the two states remain at odds over water allocation. The resolution was presented by Punjab's Water Resources Minister, Barinder Kumar Goyal, during a special session of the assembly.

Goyal accused the BJP of attempting to deprive Punjab of its rightful share of water through its influence in both Haryana and the central government. He criticized the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for what he described as an unconstitutional meeting aimed at reallocating Punjab’s water to Haryana. According to the resolution, Haryana had already used up its full share of water by March 31, and now the BJP seeks to take water from Punjab.

The resolution emphasized the significant efforts made by the Mann government to ensure water reaches every farm in Punjab, with the proportion of fields receiving canal water increasing from 22% in 2021 to 60% today. As water has become more precious for the state, Punjab insists it can no longer afford to share its resources.

While Punjab did provide 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana on April 6 for drinking purposes, it will not release more. The resolution also condemned the unconstitutional nature of the BBMB meeting and the 2021 Dam Safety Act, calling it an attack on Punjab's rights. The opposition also expressed full support for the resolution, standing firm against further water-sharing with Haryana.