The water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana escalated on Saturday as Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann refused to launch further water to the neighbouring state and officers boycotted an important Bhakra Beas Administration Board (BBMB) assembly.
The Saturday assembly, chaired by BBMB chairman Manoj Tripathi, was attended by representatives from Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to debate modalities for releasing additional water to Haryana (HT File)
Whilst Punjab officers boycotted the BBMB assembly, state police continued to regulate the Bhakra headworks at Nangal, prompting the board to demand their elimination and restoration of dam management.
Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini responded sharply to the developments following an all-party assembly in his state, calling Punjab’s actions “unconstitutional, inhuman” and an assault on the federal construction, whereas vowing to pursue all constitutional and authorized choices to guard his state’s pursuits.
Talking in Hoshiarpur, Mann mentioned Punjab wouldn’t tolerate any bullying nor launch extra water to different states. “The truth is that without our permission, no one can take away Punjab’s water. Punjab never wanted a conflict with its neighbouring states over water issue but it has been dragged into it,” he mentioned, difficult the Centre’s determination to switch Punjab officers from the BBMB. “Do whatever you can,” he added.
Mann was referring to a XEN-rank official of Punjab, who was serving as director (water regulation), being changed by BBMB on Thursday after he allegedly objected to board’s directive asking Punjab to launch 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. The official, Akashdeep Singh, was reassigned as director (security), BBMB, Nangal.
The Saturday assembly, chaired by BBMB chairman Manoj Tripathi, was attended by representatives from Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to debate modalities for releasing additional water to Haryana. Nonetheless, Punjab officers stayed away after the state water assets division despatched a letter questioning the assembly’s legality.
The letter, signed by principal secretary (water assets) Krishan Kumar, argued that BBMB laws require seven days’ discover for particular conferences, which wasn’t supplied for the April 28 and April 30 conferences. “The decisions taken in both meetings are therefore not in accordance with the law,” it said, requesting the Might 3 assembly be adjourned. Punjab additionally cited preparations for a Vidhan Sabha session on Might 5, the place the federal government is predicted to cross a decision towards the BBMB for “hampering state’s interest”. At Saturday’s assembly, it was determined that the BBMB chairman would write to Punjab’s chief secretary, demanding elimination of state police from the Bhakra headworks at Nangal and restoration of dam management to the board. A decision was additionally handed guaranteeing any water shortfall skilled by Punjab throughout the depletion interval can be handled on precedence.
Haryana convened an all-party assembly the place a decision was handed demanding Punjab allocate 8,500 cusecs of water unconditionally. “We will not sit quietly,” Saini warned.
The present disaster follows a high-level assembly chaired by Union house secretary Govind Mohan on Friday, which suggested implementing the BBMB’s to launch 4,500 cusecs of additional water from Bhakra dams to Haryana for eight days. The board additionally agreed to offer extra water to Punjab throughout the filling interval.
Mann recommended the Centre compensate Punjab with water from Pong dam, which might then be equipped to Haryana by means of the Bhakra canal. He famous that Haryana hadn’t responded to his letters warning about extreme water utilization.. Punjab claims Haryana has already used 103 per cent of its allotted water by March, whereas Haryana opposition leaders allege Punjab has capped provide at 4,000 cusecs.
(With inputs from Harpreet Kaur in Hoshiarpur)