The North News
Chandigarh, May 2
In a rare show of unity, all major political parties in Punjab have come together to oppose the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. At a meeting convened by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh on Friday, leaders from Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP, BSP, CPI, and CPM pledged full support to Mann’s effort to protect Punjab’s water rights.
The leaders condemned what they called the Centre’s “high-handedness” in the matter. They also criticised the BBMB’s decision-making, accusing it of favouring Haryana.
“Punjab’s water belongs to its people, and every drop is crucial,” Mann said. “This is not just a political issue; it’s about our survival.”
The Chief Minister announced a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be held on 5 May to formally denounce the Centre’s actions.
Leaders from across the political spectrum—including Rana KP Singh and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa (Congress), Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Daljeet Singh Cheema (SAD), state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and former Minister Manoranjan Kalia, Avtar Singh Karimpuri (BSP), and leaders of the Left parties—hailed Mann’s leadership in calling the meeting.
They stressed the need for legal, political and administrative action to resist BBMB’s order and to assert Punjab’s claim over its river waters.
While Mann noted that Punjab has been releasing 4,000 cusecs daily to Haryana since 6 April as a humanitarian gesture, he argued that Haryana has already exhausted its BBMB-assigned quota. He added that Haryana’s new demand for 8,500 cusecs is unjustified.
“Haryana has asked for 2.5 times more water than what’s needed for drinking. It’s clear they need it for irrigation,” Mann said.
He warned that Punjab’s own water reserves are under pressure. Water levels in Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams are significantly lower than last year, he said.
The CM accused the Centre and BBMB of bypassing due process to favour Haryana. “They called a BBMB meeting with just three hours’ notice. This is against the rules,” Mann claimed.
He reiterated that Punjab would not allow its water to be “plundered.” He also slammed the Centre’s move to remove Punjab’s representative from BBMB’s power division—calling it an attempt to weaken the state’s influence.
“This crisis has united Punjab,” he said. “We are legally and morally prepared to fight this battle.”
The political consensus marks a significant moment in the long-standing inter-state water dispute between Punjab and Haryana.
