Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday objected to the Centre’s resolution to deploy a contingent of 296 CISF personnel to safe the Nangal dam, stating that Punjab Police is already there for the safety.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday objected to the Centre’s resolution to deploy a contingent of 296 CISF personnel to safe the Nangal dam. He was addressing a press convention in Sangrur. (HT Picture)
Questioning the Union authorities’s transfer, Mann requested what was the necessity to deploy CISF personnel when Punjab Police was already offering safety on the dam. He termed the CISF deployment pointless and a monetary burden to the state.
The chief minister, who was addressing a press convention in Sangrur, stated that he would increase the difficulty with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Niti Aayog assembly scheduled for Saturday.
Acknowledging the significance of sustaining good relations with the Centre in a federal construction, Mann stated, “I will try to maintain good ties but if the Centre doesn’t agree with what we demand, then we are Punjabis, we will fight back.”
The Centre has sanctioned a contingent of 296 Central Industrial Safety Drive (CISF) personnel to offer safety cowl to the Nangal dam amid the standoff between Punjab and Haryana over sharing of water from the dam.
The Bhakra Beas Administration Board (BBMB) has been requested to make a safety deposit of ₹8,58,69,600 in favour of the CISF, calculated at ₹2,90,100 per personnel.
“They say either the BBMB or Punjab will pay this money. What was the need for this when Punjab Police was already providing security to the dam for free? Why should we give money?” Mann stated. “I will strongly oppose this move. We will neither allow money to be given through the BBMB nor from the state exchequer of the Punjab government,” he stated.
Questioning the intention of the Centre for deploying safety cowl, Mann requested whether or not it needed to “steal” Punjab’s share of water. “We will not allow this,” he asserted.
Mann additionally requested BJP leaders, together with Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, if the Centre’s newest transfer got here with their approval. “The Centre must withdraw this decision. The dam falls in Punjab’s jurisdiction. If Punjab can protect the international border, why can’t it protect the dam?” the chief minister requested.
To date, Punjab Police has been offering safety on the Nangal dam, which is located 13km downstream of the Bhakra dam. The police had beefed up safety on the Nangal dam after the state authorities refused to launch extra water to Haryana earlier this month.