The North News
Chandigarh, May 5
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday unanimously passed a resolution declaring that the state has no surplus water and will not provide even a single additional drop from its allocated share to Haryana.
In a fiery address to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal accused the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) of acting as an instrument of the Union government and declared unequivocally that Punjab would not provide a “single extra drop” of river water to Haryana beyond the existing humanitarian allocation.
Goyal, tabling a resolution in the Assembly, described the BBMB as a “puppet” controlled by the Centre and demanded its immediate restructuring. “Neither is Punjab’s voice heard nor are its rights respected,” he said. “The BBMB has become a tool to impose unconstitutional decisions on the state.”
The minister claimed the recent BBMB meeting—called, he said, at the behest of the BJP—violated procedural norms and legal requirements. He told the House that Haryana had already exhausted its water quota as of 31 March, and accused the BBMB of orchestrating an illegal attempt to divert Punjab’s rightful share.
Punjab currently supplies 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana for drinking needs, which Goyal said would continue on humanitarian grounds. “Our Gurus taught us to give water to the thirsty,” he remarked. “But this does not mean we’ll allow our constitutional rights to be trampled.”
The dispute touches on long-standing tensions over river water sharing in northern India. Goyal questioned the legitimacy of the 1981 water treaty, arguing that the hydrological realities have changed drastically since then. “When this treaty was signed, the rivers carried far more water than they do today. A new agreement is needed,” he said.
He also flatly rejected the Dam Safety Act 2021, calling it a “direct assault on federalism” that allows the Centre to control dams even if they are entirely within a state’s territory. “This is unacceptable and must be repealed,” Goyal told the Assembly.
The minister highlighted Punjab’s recent strides in irrigation under the Bhagwant Mann-led government, noting that canal water coverage had risen from 22% of agricultural land in 2021 to over 60% today. “Every drop is precious. Our government is committed to ensuring it reaches the farmers who need it,” he said.
With Haryana reportedly demanding 8,500 cusecs—far above its assessed drinking water needs of 1,700 cusecs—Goyal dismissed the figure as inflated and politically motivated. “This is not about need. It’s about political arm-twisting,” he said.
