Chandigarh, April 28 – In a high-level meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Punjab government today categorically refused to give additional water to Haryana. This meeting, which was called unexpectedly, was attended by top officials of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Of course, the meeting was called by BBMB with reference to the safety of dams, but the burning issue of this meeting was to give additional 8500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana.
Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini has written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, saying that there is no drinking water in many parts of Haryana and has demanded 8500 cusecs of water. The Chief Minister has said that in the past years, Haryana has been getting up to 9500 cusecs of water in the months of May and June. He also mentioned the BBMB meeting held on April 23.
In a meeting chaired by Chairman Manoj Tripathi, BBMB said that the water level in the dams should be reduced to handle the additional water that is to come in the upcoming flood season. Punjab government officials showed bitterness and said that the water level in the dams is already low and what is the point of making an excuse of safety in this. Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department of Haryana, Anurag Agarwal said in the meeting that there is a major drinking water crisis in Haryana and 8500 cusecs of water should be given to Haryana on humanitarian grounds for the next 8 days. Punjab is already giving 4000 cusecs of water to Haryana due to the drinking water crisis. Haryana has used 103 percent of its share of water from the rivers. Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department of Punjab, Krishan Kumar strictly said that the water level in the dams is low and the Pong Dam is closed for 45 days due to repairs. He said that the Punjab government has been writing to Haryana for two years that Punjab will not be able to provide water to Haryana even on humanitarian grounds in the future because the Punjab government has revived old water channels and canals in its state, due to which the demand for water in Punjab has increased. It is learnt that the BBMB chairman, seeing the bitterness in the atmosphere, said that both the states should deal with this matter with mutual consent. Rajasthan's Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department Abhay Kumar Singh joined today through video conference.
Punjab has started using its share of river waters wisely
Punjab believes that Haryana is asking for water for agriculture on the basis of humanitarian grounds, but Punjab itself does not have excess water. Punjab has started using its share of river waters wisely. Punjab will use 100 percent of its share of river waters by May 20, while Haryana has already used 103 percent more than its share.