CHANDIGARH: Amid escalating tension between Punjab and Haryana over a water sharing dispute, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said his government will not allow the release of any more water to the neighbouring state, claiming it has already utilised its share. Mann on Thursday visited the Nangal dam in Rupnagar district where state minister Harjot Singh Bains held a ‘dharna’ along with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers.
Bains claimed they locked a room at the Nangal dam from where water supply is regulated.
A fresh row has erupted over water sharing between Punjab and Haryana with the AAP government in the border state refusing to release more water to its BJP-ruled neighbours.
The matter escalated after the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Wednesday decided to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana during a meeting held here.
The decision to release water to Haryana came despite the Punjab government strongly objecting to the BBMB’s move, claiming that the neighbouring state has already utilised 103 per cent of its allocated share of water.
Addressing the media at the Nangal dam, Mann described the water sharing dispute as a “very serious” issue, claiming that Punjab is already facing a water crisis.
He also said that presently, the water levels at Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams were less than what they were in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Referring to the BBMB meeting held on Wednesday, Mann accused the two BJP-ruled states, Haryana and Rajasthan of indulging in ‘gundagardi’ (thuggery) and ‘tanashahi’ (dictatorship) besides colluding to arrive at the decision to give more water to Haryana.
“How could they bypass Punjab and take away water? We did not sign (that decision),” Mann said.
He also claimed that Haryana officials have already admitted that they have utilised the state’s share of water by March.
“Not even a single drop of water will be given. We do not have water. Do not expect water from us,” Mann said.
The chief minister also hinted at calling an all-party meeting and a special Assembly session on the water issue.
On Tuesday, Mann refused to release more water to Haryana, stating that the neighbouring state has already utilised 103 per cent of its allocated share.
Mann also accused the BJP of exerting pressure on the Punjab government through the BBMB to meet Haryana’s demand.
Haryana utilised its share of water in March and was seeking additional water for April and May, Mann claimed.
Punjab needed water for the upcoming paddy sowing season and there was not a single surplus drop to spare, he said.
Mann also said that this year, the BBMB distributed 3.318 million acre feet (MAF), 2.987 MAF and 5.512 MAF water to Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, respectively.
Haryana used its share of water by March 31 after which the crisis began, Mann claimed, adding that as a humanitarian gesture, the Punjab government generously allotted 4,000 cusecs of water daily to Haryana from April 6.
