The Fact News Service
Rupnagar, May 1
Exposing the conspiracy of BJP-led Central and Haryana governments to rob Punjabis of their water rights, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that Punjab is an agricultural state and we will not let a single drop of the state’s water go to Haryana even if we have to our behead.
Education Minister said that due to the deep groundwater of 90 percent of Punjab’s area, it has been declared a dark zone and the BJP’s central government’s Tughlaq decree to provide 8500 cusecs of water to Haryana through BBMB is a direct betrayal of Punjabis, which has already been disapproved by the state government.
He said that now in view of the serious situation of groundwater in Punjab, irrigation of agriculture land is being done on a large scale with canal water, in the Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency alone, a plan to revive about 10,000 barren lands with canal water through pipes at a cost of Rs. 100 crore is being implemented.
Harjot Bains clarified that the BJP-led Haryana and central governments want to bully Punjab. It is very unfortunate that BBMB is passing new resolutions every day to rob Punjab’s waters, changing the quota officers of Punjab, while the state government will stand firm to protect the rights of Punjab and will not allow anyone to grab our water share.
Cabinet minister said that it is the commitment of the state government to protect the rights of Punjab’s waters, while the BJP-led Haryana government has demanded two and a half times more water than its actual requirement from Punjab, which is completely irrational. A few days ago, the Haryana government said that the water being received from Punjab is not enough to live on, due to which the Haryana needs 8500 cusecs more water daily, which is trying to snatch the water completely.
Education Minister said that this extra requirements of water has also arisen because Haryana has not used its water properly, despite this, Punjab has been providing this water daily since April.
Harjot Bains disclosed that the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Singh Mann has made it clear to the Haryana government that Punjab does not have a single extra drop of water to share with any other state. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) distributes water between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan every year, which is effective from May 21st of the current year to May 20th of the next year.
Although the population of Haryana is three crore, according to which 1700 cusecs is enough to meet the water needs of the people of this state, but the Central Government is deliberately hatching a nefarious conspiracy to snatch water from Punjab. Which will not be allowed to succeed under any circumstances.
He further said that Punjab is already facing water shortage for irrigation of fields as the groundwater level is falling and the water level in the dams has come down to an alarming level. Citing this, Minister said that the water level in Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam has come down by 32 feet, 12 feet and 14 feet respectively compared to last year.
