The North News
Chandigarh, May 16
Punjab’s Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal has accused Haryana of deliberately derailing water-sharing negotiations by raising its already contentious water demand from 9,525 to 10,300 cusecs, a volume he says exceeds both infrastructure limits and logic. The charge came after a meeting of the Technical Committee of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), where officials from Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana convened to address regional water allocation. Representatives from the central government also joined virtually.
Goyal, who also holds the Soil and Water Conservation portfolio, said Haryana’s revised request was not only technically unfeasible but also indicative of “unwillingness to arrive at a reasonable resolution.” “Initially, Haryana demanded 8,500 cusecs, which was already beyond our ability to provide. Nevertheless, Punjab has been supplying 4,000 cusecs since April 4 purely for humanitarian drinking water purposes,” said Goyal.
He noted that the Bhakra Main Line (BML), which serves as the main channel for water transmission, has a capacity of just 11,700 cusecs. “Punjab requires a minimum of 3,000 cusecs to meet its own essential needs. Haryana’s new demand would leave Punjab high and dry. It’s not just unreasonable—it’s physically impossible,” he added.
Punjab officials presented documentary evidence during the meeting showing Haryana’s earlier written request for 9,525 cusecs, underscoring the sudden and unexplained increase. The BBMB Chairman, who chaired the session, acknowledged the inconsistency and promised further review.
“This is not negotiation. It’s obstruction,” Goyal said. “Punjab has followed every rule under BBMB. Haryana continues to move the goalposts.”
Rajasthan, by contrast, began the meeting by thanking Punjab for the consistent water supply, a gesture that sharply contrasted with Haryana’s confrontational posture.
Goyal further clarified that the 4,000 cusecs already being supplied is drawn from Punjab’s share. “We have formally placed on record that this water must be returned to Punjab when required. This is not a gift—it’s a loan taken under humanitarian grounds.” The ongoing rift adds further strain to the already tense inter-state relations over river water distribution. With the BML currently undergoing repairs, officials warned that pushing the channel beyond its safe capacity could risk not only infrastructure damage but also water scarcity across all affected states.
As BBMB continues its deliberations, the impasse shows little sign of easing.
