‘Not even a single drop’: Punjab CM clears stand on releasing extra water to Haryana
CHANDIGARH: Amid escalating rigidity between Punjab and Haryana over a water sharing dispute, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday stated his authorities is not going to enable the discharge of any extra water to the neighbouring state, claiming it has already utilised its share. Mann on Thursday visited the Nangal dam in Rupnagar district the place state minister Harjot Singh Bains held a ‘dharna’ together with Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) employees. Bains claimed they locked a room on the Nangal dam from the place water provide is regulated. A contemporary row has erupted over water sharing between Punjab and Haryana with the AAP authorities within the border state refusing to launch extra water to its BJP-ruled neighbours. The matter escalated after the Bhakra Beas Administration Board (BBMB) on Wednesday determined to launch 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana throughout a gathering held right here. The choice to launch water to Haryana got here regardless of the Punjab authorities strongly objecting to the BBMB’s transfer, claiming that the neighbouring state has already utilised 103 per cent of its allotted share of water. Addressing the media on the Nangal dam, Mann described the water sharing dispute as a “very serious” subject, claiming that Punjab is already dealing with a water disaster. He additionally stated that presently, the water ranges at Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams have been lower than what they have been within the corresponding interval of the earlier yr. Referring to the BBMB assembly held on Wednesday, Mann accused the 2 BJP-ruled states, Haryana and Rajasthan of indulging in ‘gundagardi’ (thuggery) and ‘tanashahi’ (dictatorship) apart from colluding to reach on the resolution to offer extra water to Haryana. “How could they bypass Punjab and take away water? We did not sign (that decision),” Mann stated. He additionally claimed that Haryana officers have already admitted that they’ve utilised the state’s share of water by March. “Not even a single drop of water will be given. We do not have water. Do not expect water from us,” Mann stated. The chief minister additionally hinted at calling an all-party assembly and a particular Meeting session on the water subject. On Tuesday, Mann refused to launch extra water to Haryana, stating that the neighbouring state has already utilised 103 per cent of its allotted share. Mann additionally accused the BJP of exerting strain on the Punjab authorities by means of the BBMB to fulfill Haryana’s demand. Haryana utilised its share of water in March and was looking for further water for April and Might, Mann claimed. Punjab wanted water for the upcoming paddy sowing season and there was not a single surplus drop to spare, he stated. Mann additionally stated that this yr, the BBMB distributed 3.318 million acre toes (MAF), 2.987 MAF and 5.512 MAF water to Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, respectively. Haryana used its share of water by March 31 after which the disaster started, Mann claimed, including that as a humanitarian gesture, the Punjab authorities generously allotted 4,000 cusecs of water each day to Haryana from April 6.
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