Water Dispute Escalates: Haryana and Punjab Clash Over River Sharing

Haryana's All-Party Meeting on Water Sharing

Chandigarh: In light of ongoing tensions regarding river water distribution with Punjab, an all-party assembly convened by Haryana's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took place on Saturday.

Political representatives from various parties, including BJP, Congress, INLD, JJP, and AAP, attended the meeting, which followed a similar gathering held by the Punjab government the previous day, where a united front was presented by the state's political factions, including the BJP.

The Punjab administration has declined to provide additional water to Haryana, intensifying the conflict.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Saini, along with state Irrigation Minister Shruti Choudhry and leaders from Congress, JJP, AAP, and INLD, discussed the pressing issue.

Saini asserted that Haryana's request for water remains unchanged and accused the Punjab government of politicizing the water-sharing dilemma.

He criticized the stance of Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, stating, "When someone visits, offering a glass of water is customary. It's astonishing that politics has reached a point where access to drinking water is questioned."

Saini emphasized that politics should not interfere with essential resources, speaking to reporters at an anti-drug initiative led by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who was also in attendance along with Punjab Chief Minister Mann and Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya.

Expressing frustration, Saini remarked on the cessation of drinking water supply, highlighting the increased demand during the warmer months of April, May, and June.

In response, Chief Minister Mann reiterated that his administration would not permit additional water release to Haryana, citing that Punjab has already exceeded its allocated water share by 103%.

Mann mentioned that, as a humanitarian act, Punjab has been supplying 4,000 cusecs of water daily to Haryana since April 6.

He also criticized the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for its decision to allocate extra water to Haryana, labeling it as an unacceptable infringement on Punjab's rights and asserting that the Board should not dictate terms concerning his state.

The BBMB is responsible for managing water distribution from the Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams, which are crucial for meeting the irrigation needs of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.