Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday sought share for state in Indus waters and mooted the idea of Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL) canal instead of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
New Delhi, July 9: Punjab has no surplus water for any other state. The Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated this on Wednesday. He sought a share for the state in Indus waters. He also mooted the idea of Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL) canal instead of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
No Question of Sharing Even a Single Drop of Water
Participating in a meeting held here at Shram Shakti Bhawan, the Chief Minister reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water with anyone. He said that Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state. A reassessment of the water availability in the state is required as per international norms. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that most of the blocks of the state are over exploited and the groundwater situation in the state is very grim.He sought a share for the state in Indus waters.
Punjab CM Bats for Indus Waters Treaty Review to Tackle Water Crisis
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that as most of the river resources of the state have dried up, so it needs more water to cater to its irrigation needs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the situation is so grim that Punjab only has scant water, which it is providing to the food growers adding that in such a scenario there is no question of sharing even a drop of water with any other states.Meanwhile, he again proposed reconsidering the Indus Waters Treaty.. He suggested making efforts to bring water from the Western Rivers to India. This is necessary to meet the growing water demand.
The Chief Minister said the state must fully utilise the opportunity created by the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty to meet its water needs.. He said that the recent decision by the Government of India to suspend the Indus Water Treaty opens up the possibility of greater utilization of water from the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) within Indian territory. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab is currently facing groundwater depletion.Prioritize Punjab in all future strategies for using, diverting, or allocating river waters.
The Chief Minister demanded that the government allocate the waters of the western rivers to Punjab on a priority basis and build new storage dams upstream of the existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh.. He said that this will significantly enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters. Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized the urgent need for Punjab. The state has over exploited its limited natural resources. This includes water and fertile land. Punjab has done so to make the country self-reliant in food production. Thus, the state should be duly compensated.
Indus waters : Take up the Sharda-Yamuna Link on priority.
The Chief Minister said that they must prioritize the long-conceived Sharda-Yamuna Link project and transfer surplus water to the Yamuna River at a suitable location.
Ask ChatGPT He said that the additional water so available could offset the balance water requirement of the state of Haryana from the Ravi- Beas system apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of capital city of Delhi and availability of the Yamuna water to the state of Rajasthan. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that, under these circumstances, Punjab can shelve the construction of the SYL canal and put the issue to rest forever.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana’s demands should be met by constructing the Sarda Yamuna link.
This link is necessary to transfer surplus Sarda water to the Yamuna River. Chenab water can be diverted to River Beas through the Rohtang tunnel. “This will eliminate the need for the SYL canal. He said the authorities should keep the proceedings related to the SYL matter (O.S. No. 6 of 1996) in abeyance until the Ravi-Beas tribunal announces its decision.Bhagwant Singh Mann said the government will review the MoU signed on 12.05.1994 for allocating Yamuna waters between Delhi, U.P., H.P., and Rajasthan after 2025.
Indus waters : Punjab CM Demands 60% Yamuna Water Share, Rejects SYL Canal
The Chief Minister demanded that the Centre include Punjab as a partner State in Yamuna water allocations.He insisted that officials must consider allocating at least 60% of the surplus Yamuna waters for Punjab during apportionment. Furthermore, he suggested reconceiving the project as the Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL) instead of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Since the Satluj river has already dried up, there is, therefore, no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it. Instead, Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasized that water from the Ganga and Yamuna should rather be supplied to Punjab through the Satluj river.
The Chief Minister said that SYL canal is an ’emotive issue.’ Punjab will have a serious law and order issue. It will become a national problem. Haryana and Rajasthan will also bear the brunt. He categorically stated that Punjab does not have land available for the SYL canal as of today. He added that out of 34.34 MAF of water from the three rivers, Punjab gets only 14.22 MAF, which is 40%. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan get the remaining 60%. None of these rivers actually flow through these states.
Punjab CM Warns of Severe Groundwater Crisis as State Shares 60% Water with Others
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is already getting (1.62 MAF Ravi-Beas and 4.33 MAF Sutlej Waters)=5.95 MAF from three rivers (Ravi, Beas & Sutlej) of Punjab. He said that In addition to Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, Haryana got additional 4.65 MAF Yamuna waters and further 1.62 MAF Sarda water by Sharda Yamuna Link.Bhagwant Singh Mann said that reduced surface water is putting pressure on groundwater. He added that Punjab has declared 115 out of 153 blocks (75%) over-exploited, while Haryana has declared 88 out of 143 blocks (61%) over-exploited.
“Punjab’s Groundwater Crisis Grows as State Contributes 47% Wheat, 24% Rice to India
The Chief Minister said that the number of tube wells in the state increased significantly over the years. It has grown from 6 lakhs in the 1980s to 14 lakh. It reached 76 lakh in 2018. This includes the tube well installed only for agriculture. This shows an increase of more than 200% during the last 35 years. He said that Punjab has the highest rate of groundwater extraction (157%) in the entire nation. This rate is even higher than Rajasthan (150%). Punjab ignores its own water requirement. It gives about 60% of its water to non-riparian states. These states do not have the Ravi-Beas and Sutlej Rivers passing through them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab made a major contribution of 124. 26 lakh metric tonne of wheat during 2024. This is 47% of the total procured in India. Punjab also contributed 24% rice in the centre pool.
Bhagwant Mann Seeks Yamuna Water Rights, Flood Loss Compensation
The Chief Minister said that the total water requirement of Punjab is 52 MAF. The water available with the state of Punjab is only 26.75 MAF (Surface water from three rivers 12.46 MAF and Ground water 14.29 MAF). He said that the Punjab Rivers’ water is shared among the partner states. However, the flood from these rivers causes damage only in Punjab. This imposes a huge financial burden on the State of Punjab every year. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the partner states share the benefits in a certain ratio and must appropriately compensate Punjab This compensation is for the damages and destructions caused by the floods annually.
The Chief Minister urged a review of agreements and tribunal decisions in light of changed circumstances.. Environmental developments also necessitate a review. International norms mandate a review every 25 years. He said that Punjab seeking a share of Yamuna water is comparable to Haryana’s share of Ravi Beas waters. The Irrigation Commission Report by the Government of India in 1972 held that Punjab is riparian to the Yamuna river. Bhagwant Singh Mann lamented that GOI believes the Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966 is silent about Yamuna Waters. Punjab and Haryana did not consider these waters sharable.
Punjab has already enacted “Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004
The Chief Minister said that the Act is also silent about Ravi Waters. He added that Punjab has already enacted “Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004”. This act terminates the 1981 Agreement relating to Surplus Ravi-Beas waters. Punjab has kept Haryana’s current utilization of Ravi-Beas waters. This is in accordance with Clause 5 of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004.Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is not releasing any water to Pakistan. The only water which reaches Pakistan is from Ujh River. This river originates and flows through J&K.
YSL canal should be constructed
The Chief Minister stated that there are numerous reasons for this decision.For these reasons, we must construct the YSL canal.This will meet the water needs of the state. He said that Haryana has enough scope to get additional waters. Moreover, the state is also receiving 2.703 MAF water from several sources: River Ghaggar, Tangri Nadi, Markanda River, Saraswati Nadi, Chautang-Rakshi, Nai Nalah, Sahibi Nadi, Krishna Dhuan, and Landoha Nalah. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann pointed out that the authorities have completely overlooked this water. Consequently, this oversight occurred while deciding how to allocate it between the States.
