Chandigarh (Punjab) [India]: The Punjab Legislative Assembly convened a special session on Monday to address mounting concerns over water sharing with Haryana, following the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) directive to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to the neighbouring state.
The session, called by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, comes amid unanimous opposition from all political parties in Punjab, who assert that the move endangers the state’s already strained water resources.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema voiced strong disapproval of the BBMB decision, stating:
“Water is a huge necessity for Punjab… We have given more than their share to Haryana… The Centre and Haryana are trying to loot Punjab’s water. Our AAP government won’t let this happen. This isn’t about politics.”
Leader of the Opposition, Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to Punjab’s interests:
“Congress has always stood with Punjab. Under no circumstances will Punjab’s waters be surrendered. We expect the government to take a bold stand.”
Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal clarified that the issue lies in legal allocation rather than dam water levels:
“It’s not about the dam’s capacity but about each state’s share. The BBMB is responsible for allocation. We’ll use legal avenues to protect our rights.”
MLA Sandeep Jakhar raised another pressing issue—water quality within Punjab:
“Many regions in Punjab, including my tehsil, receive dirty water. Water quantity and quality both matter and must be addressed.”
However, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira criticised the AAP government’s delayed response, highlighting the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which centralises dam control under the Centre:
“This move is too late. When the 2021 Act passed in Parliament, Bhagwant Mann, then an MP, remained silent. That Act took away state control of our dams. Let’s see what the government proposes now.”
This special session follows an all-party meeting on May 2, where political leaders unanimously condemned the BBMB’s order.
In a statement on X, CM Mann said:
“Today in Chandigarh, leaders of all Punjab parties united against the atrocities of the Centre via BBMB. Punjabis have a right to every drop of Punjab water. We won’t let it be taken. A special Assembly session has been called to take critical decisions.”
On April 30, the BBMB directed the release of an extra 8,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra-Nangal Dam to Haryana, prompting Punjab’s sharp rejection due to falling reservoir levels and rising domestic needs.