CM Mann’s fiery message to Amit Shah: Sacrificing Punjab’s sons at the border while paying for Central forces, Haryana demands river waters but turns away during floods

The meeting, presided over by Shah, was attended by members representing Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territories of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh.

As Shah listened, Mann underscored the need for revision of clause of paid military for Punjab.

“Being a border state, the state is fighting the nation’s war to combat terrorism and drugs but unfortunately whenever the state needs central para military forces to maintain law and order on behalf of the country we are asked to pay a hefty fee for it,” Mann said.

He cited the Rs 7-crore bill levied by Centre on the state for deployment of central security forces dating back to 2016 during Pathankot terror attack. Mann told Shah that Punjab was like a wall for Delhi. “If we hadn’t stopped the terrorists at Pathankot, they would have gone further and attacked Delhi. We are protecting the national capital and yet we are asked to pay up. Why is this money being collected from a state whose sons are martyred for the country?,” he asked.

Mann said the capital city of Punjab was officially shifted from Shimla to Chandigarh on September 21, 1953. However, at the time of bifurcation of the state in 1966, Chandigarh was made a Union Territory. “Chandigarh was formed as a new Capital of Punjab over the land acquired in the state of Punjab,” he asserted.

Mann said although the issue has remained under deliberation at various forums, the demand for Chandigarh’s restoration to Punjab has not been addressed yet. Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

He also opposed Haryana’s proposal seeking affiliation of its colleges with Panjab University saying it would also dilute Punjab’s right on the university. He said the university is Punjab’s heritage. “It is Punjab which nurtured this university for 50 years,” he said.

On the SYL issue, Mann reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state. He said instead of the SYL canal, the project should be now be conceived as Yamuna-Sutlej Link.

The Sutlej River has already dried up and there is no question of sharing “even a single drop of water from it.” Rather, water from Ganga and Yamuna should be supplied to Punjab through Sutlej river, he said. He said the SYL canal is a highly emotive issue for Punjab and its construction will lead to serious law and order issue with potential to affect the entire country, in addition to Haryana and Rajasthan.

Mann said Punjab has no surplus water to share with Haryana and reassessment of availability of water is needed to be done as per international norms, and demanded setting up of a new tribunal.

He said the state has been requesting for its association in negotiations for allocation of Yamuna waters, but its request has not been considered on the ground that no geographical area of Punjab falls in Yamuna basin. Mann said that Haryana is not the basin state of Ravi and Beas rivers, yet Punjab is forced to share waters of these rivers with Haryana.

Opposing the water cess levied by Himachal Pradesh on hydro-power projects, Mann cited the section 7 of the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, which says no state government shall impose a fee on other state or its inhabitants, if the basis of the levy is that works for conservation, regulation or utilization of water of the inter-state river has been constructed within the limits of the state.

Mann also strongly opposed Rajasthan’s demand for membership of the BBMB, saying it is a body constituted under the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966, which primarily deals with the successor states of Punjab and Haryana.

He also criticised Haryana and Rajasthan for refusing to take flood waters through canal system for fear of silt that could damage their canal network. “These neighbours, who always stake claim on water, showed us their backs. How do they expect water from us? When it floods then Punjab has to face the fury and otherwise, they want our water,” he added.

Mann also flagged the issue of the Shanan Power House in Jogindernagar, accusing HP of unnecessarily raising the issue of its transfer on the ground that the 99-year lease of land is expiring in 2024.

He also made a case for using the water from Ujh and Ravi rivers going to Pakistan. He said that the state had proposed long back to stop this water by constructing a barrage across Ravi just downstream to the confluence point with Ujh at Makaura Pattan, which is within 4 km from Indo-Pak border.

The CM called for prosecution of illegal travel agents, demanding formation of a centre of excellence to counter the threat of drones, expediting the setting up of a regional centre of National Security Guards in Pathankot, and revision of flood relief norms.

He also raised the issue of discrimination being meted out to the state that had ushered the country in the era of green revolution. “Yet, the Centre is withholding its RDF to the tune of over Rs 5,000 crore,” he added.

While the meeting discussed a plethora of inter-state issues, there were no solution in sight as the states stuck to their guns. Shah is learnt to have given a suggestion that the states can consider setting up working groups to find out solutions of these issues.