Punjab minister Cheema vows to block more water to Haryana

Chandigarh

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday declared that the AAP government would not allow any more water to be released to Haryana, accusing the BJP of conspiring against Punjab. His statement followed the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, despite objections from Punjab officials.

Cheema criticized the BJP-led Centre and Haryana leaders, stating that Haryana had already utilized its full water share, while Punjab had used only 89% of its allocation. He pointed out that Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan had specific water quotas, and Haryana’s share had been exceeded.

Cheema also shared that water levels in Punjab’s major dams, including Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar, were lower than capacity. He emphasized that 115 out of Punjab’s 153 blocks were in a dark zone, requiring deep tubewells for irrigation.

Cheema vowed that Punjab would not release additional water to Haryana, asserting that the state had already given its due share. He criticized Haryana for misusing its water allocation for industrial and agricultural purposes, further escalating the issue.

Additionally, Cheema addressed security measures at the Nangal dam, ensuring that all dams in Punjab were secure. He also condemned the BBMB’s decision to replace a Punjab engineer with a Haryana cadre director, calling it part of a broader conspiracy to undermine Punjab’s rights.