Punjab Assembly special session: Barinder Kumar Goyal demands payment from Rajasthan for water supply and urges faster completion of the Ujh Multipurpose Project.
Punjab Irrigation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal has demanded that Rajasthan pay Punjab for the water it has been receiving for decades. Speaking during the final day of the special session of the Punjab Assembly, Goyal argued that Rajasthan is not a riparian state of the Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers and should compensate Punjab for the water supplied to it.
The minister moved a resolution seeking annual payments from Rajasthan for future water supplies. He highlighted Punjab’s growing water challenges and said the state should not continue providing water without compensation while facing pressure on its own resources. The demand for payment from Rajasthan was among the key issues raised during the Punjab Assembly special session.
Punjab Seeks Priority Completion of Ujh Multipurpose Project
Goyal also called for the Central Government to give priority to completing the Ujh Multipurpose Project. He explained that water from the Ujh, Tarnah and Basantar rivers, which originate in Jammu and Kashmir, joins the Ravi downstream of Madhopur Headworks. A portion of this water eventually flows into Pakistan, while Punjab lacks sufficient infrastructure to store and utilise it effectively.
The resolution urged the Centre to expedite the project so that the water could be diverted towards the Ranjit Sagar Dam and used for irrigation and other needs within Punjab.
The minister further raised the issue of Punjab’s historical and legal claims over the waters of the Yamuna River, which flowed through undivided Punjab before the state’s reorganisation in 1966.
Punjab Demands Early Decision on Water Dispute
During the Punjab Assembly special session, the resolution also called on the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to take an early decision on a complaint submitted by Punjab on April 25, 2025. It sought the establishment of a Water Disputes Tribunal to address the state’s concerns.
The resolution stated that Punjab should approach the Supreme Court if the Centre fails to make a decision. The government maintained that water-sharing disputes require a timely resolution and that the state’s interests must be protected.
Harpal Singh Cheema Moves Resolution on Welfare Schemes
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema introduced a separate resolution assuring the continuation of major public welfare programmes, with provisions to be included in the Punjab Budget.
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The schemes mentioned included the Mukhyamantri Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, 300 units of free electricity every month, free power for agriculture, the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, Aam Aadmi Clinics, free bus travel for women, the pilgrimage scheme and financial assistance programmes for the dairy sector.
The resolution also criticised remarks made by the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal concerning these initiatives.
The welfare agenda formed another important part of the Punjab Assembly special session, alongside discussions on water rights and the state’s financial and development priorities.
AAP MLA Raises Mid-Day Meal Demand for Nursery and LKG Students
AAP MLA Kulwant Singh highlighted the exclusion of nursery and Lower Kindergarten (LKG) students from the mid-day meal scheme. He pointed out that the programme currently covers children from Upper Kindergarten (UKG) through Class 8, even though younger students attend classes alongside them.
According to the MLA, the existing arrangement creates an uneven situation during lunchtime, when children eligible for meals are called to eat while nursery and LKG students remain outside the scheme.
Responding to the concern, the minister explained that the pre-primary education system had been reorganised into Pre-Primary 1 and Pre-Primary 2. Changes in the Central Government’s rules had complicated implementation of the meal programme for younger children.
He added that the Centre had earlier released its share of funding before the state contributed its portion, and that the Punjab government was working to ensure meals for all children.
Water Rights and Welfare Remain Key Assembly Priorities
The discussions during the Punjab Assembly special session covered water-sharing disputes, irrigation infrastructure, welfare commitments and school nutrition. Goyal’s demand for payment from Rajasthan and the push for the Ujh Multipurpose Project placed Punjab’s water security at the centre of the proceedings.
The resolutions also highlighted the state government’s stated commitment to protecting Punjab’s water interests, continuing welfare schemes and addressing gaps in public services.
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