"We gave 4000 quesec water to Haryana on humanitarian ground and still they conspired to ask more water through BBMB...",

'BBMB should be re-constituted', says CM Bhagwant Mann on water crisis at Punjab Vidhan Sabha, latest news: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday addressed the Vidhan Sabha during a special session wherein the House unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) directive to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. 

Addressing the issue of water crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Punjab has always been a part of revolution, be it its contribution in Indian independence and serving the people with food. 

"When I came to the power, Punjab was utilizing 21 percent of water but now we are utilizing 60 percent of water," he said, adding that "I welcome the support of people of Punjab who cooperated when we proposed digging for water."  

"The previous governments have been irresponsible earlier. Punjab has always been  
utilizing less water as compared to Haryana. Even this year, they have used 104 percent of water. We have been warning them to use the water responsibly but they kept taking it for granted and saying, we'll get it anyhow, like we used to do earlier. I said, this won't happen now," said Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.  

"We gave 4000 quesec water to Haryana on humanitarian ground and still they conspired to ask more water through BBMB by deploying their own officers", he said. 

Taking a dig at the Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab CM said, "While we have been protesting against the same, Congress is playing double games. Why didn't Himachal voted against the same in BBMB? And even the person who filed case in Punjab and Haryana High Court belongs to Haryana Congress." 

"If you can't get my chair, I am not responsible for it, people are not electing you," said CM Mann in his dig at Partap Bajwa. 

"BBMB, Bhakra Beas Management Board, manages Ravi, Sutej, Beas and Bhakra rivers. What inches of Haryana, Rajasthan touches these rivers? Why are they having 1 vote each in BBMB? Punjab is the one who is taking all the expense of BBMB. BBMB keeps ordering Punjab Government that we are opening the gates and we are closing the gates. Usually, a meeting has to be convened by giving prior notice of 1 month, and in case of emergency, it can be convened by giving prior notice of 1 week. In such a case, the meeting was illegal and so are the decision taken in the meeting," he added. 

Referring to a recent decision of BBMB to change an officer in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann asked BJP leader Ashwini Kumar to please ask the leaders above to think about it. "You (Ashwani Kumar) must talk to them, you are standing by us but that's the mountain which is not ready to move." 

"They don't talk politely. They try to dictate and we don't take it," he said, adding "The White Elephant, the BBMB, should be re-constituted." 

"When it comes to floods, Haryana and Rajasthan keep denying to take water, but now they are asking for water. Why? Punjab is to drown?" he asked.