Chandigarh, May 2
The all-party meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here on Friday to discuss the issue of giving additional water to neighbouring Haryana, unanimously decided that the state itself has no surplus water. They also decided to meet either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to apprise them of the situation.
The meeting comprised leaders from the AAP, BJP, the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Later there was a media interaction after the all-party meeting of all prominent parties expressed unanimity with the AAP government’s refusal to share extra water with Haryana.
Chief Minister Mann told the media that all the political parties, rising above their ideology, suggested to the government that it must save every drop of the water which is the state’s lifeline.
CM Mann said Haryana, which is already receiving 4,700 cusecs against its allocated 1,700 cusecs, is now set to benefit from additional theft of Punjab’s rightful share.
The ongoing row was triggered by the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water from the reservoir to Haryana, which is an additional 4,500 cusecs.
CM Mann clarified that Haryana has already used 103 per cent of its share and warned of agitation “if Punjab’s rights are denied”.
He said that during the meeting, issues pertaining to usurping of rights of Punjab by the Union government through unfair allocation of water to Haryana by the BBMB, was deliberated upon.