Chief Minister Mann Rejects BJP Pressure Over Water Sharing, Reaffirms Punjab’s Rightful Stand
Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann strongly criticized the BJP for allegedly attempting to coerce Punjab into releasing additional water to Haryana, accusing the party of manipulating institutions like the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for political gain.
He emphasized that Haryana has already overused its water quota—utilizing 103% of its share by March 2025—within the annual allocation cycle (May 21 to May 21). CM Bhagwant Singh declared that Punjab cannot afford to release more water, particularly with the paddy season approaching and local irrigation needs rising. Despite the shortage, he noted that Punjab had already supplied 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana on humanitarian grounds for drinking purposes.
CM Bhagwant Singh warned that previous governments may have yielded to pressure, but under his leadership, Punjab will stand firm. He pointed out that water levels in major reservoirs like Ranjit Sagar Dam and Pong Dam are significantly below last year’s levels—by 39 and 24 feet respectively.
CM Bhagwant Singh also urged the Union Government to reconsider the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and divert rivers like Chenab, Jhelum, and Ujh to address water needs domestically. He slammed the BJP for politicizing the issue and held Haryana responsible for mismanaging its own water share. Stressing Punjab’s major contribution to the national food supply—185 MT of paddy—he reiterated that not a single drop of water could be spared, given the state’s critical groundwater and river conditions.