Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Accuses BJP Govt of Pressuring to Divert Extra Water to Haryana via BBMB
"This year, Haryana had already consumed its entire quota by the end of March, yet they are demanding more for April and May," he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of attempting to coerce Punjab into releasing additional water to Haryana through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), despite Haryana already exhausting its annual quota.
In a strongly worded statement, CM Mann termed the alleged pressure tactics as another "conspiracy" by the BJP against Punjab. "The BJP government is trying to create pressure on Punjab through BBMB to give more water to Haryana, even though Haryana has already used up its share for the current water accounting cycle," said Mann.
He clarified that under the water-sharing agreements, Punjab allocates water to Haryana and Rajasthan from May 21 to May 21 each year. "This year, Haryana had already consumed its entire quota by the end of March, yet they are demanding more for April and May," he said.
Taking a dig at previous Punjab governments, the AAP leader said, "Earlier, there was no transparent tracking of how much water was used by which state. All previous governments colluded and let others take more than their share. We have now streamlined the system."
He also highlighted the growing irrigation demands within Punjab, saying the state simply doesn’t have the capacity to provide additional water. "How can we provide extra water to Haryana when our own farmers are in need? Despite that, we still provided 4,000 cusecs of water on humanitarian grounds."
Mann went on to challenge the BJP's stance, suggesting that instead of pressuring Punjab, the Centre should focus on diverting the water that previously flowed to Pakistan. "Give that water to us, let us fill our dams, and then we will share it with other states," he said.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister warned the Centre against politicizing the issue. "Don’t expect even a single extra drop from Punjab. Water is a basic necessity for our farmers. Please stop pressurizing us — we are not afraid."
The remarks are expected to escalate the political tension between Punjab and the Centre, especially amid growing concerns over water scarcity in northern India ahead of the summer peak.