Mann writes back to Saini, says ‘not a drop of water to share’

Mann said that the Chief Minister of Haryana did call him but he never gave any assurance regarding water to Saini. He added that he cannot give such a promise when Punjab has no drop of water to share with any other state.

The Chief Minister said that every year Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) distributes water to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan which is applicable from May 21 to May 20 next year. He said that this year BBMB had distributed 3.318 MAF, 2.987 MAF and 5.512 MAF water to Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab respectively. Mann said that the BJP government in Haryana had used its share of water by March 31 this year after which the crisis had arisen. The Chief Minister said that subsequently the Haryana government had urged Punjab that they don’t even have water to cater to the drinking needs of people.

ਬੀਜੇਪੀ ਦੀ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਝੀ ਚਾਲ ਚੱਲੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ, ਅਸੀਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਕੀਮਤ ‘ਤੇ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਕਾਮਯਾਬ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਣ ਦੇਵਾਂਗੇ।
…..
भाजपा की केंद्र सरकार की तरफ से पंजाब के पानी को लेकर एक और गंदी चाल चली जा रही है, हम इसे किसी भी कीमत पर सफल नहीं होने देंगे। pic.twitter.com/Kffw8ZQEoK

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) April 29, 2025

He said that as a humanitarian gesture the Punjab government generously allotted 4000 cusec of water daily to Haryana from April 6, 2025. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that though the population of Haryana is three crore and as per estimates 1700 cusec of water is enough to meet the needs of people of state.

However, the Chief Minister said that the Haryana government has sought 2.5 times more water from Punjab than its actual need. Despite this, he said that Punjab has been giving this water from the month of April adding that a few days back Haryana had pleaded that this water is not sufficient for it and they need 8500 cusec additional water daily. He said that it is evident that this water is needed for irrigation purposes and this problem has arisen as Haryana has not utilised its share of water properly.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Punjab is already grappling with shortage of water for agricultural purposes as the groundwater is receding across the state. He said that the level of water in the dams has been recorded all time low and water level at Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam is 32 feet, 12 feet and 14 feet low respectively as compared to last year. He said that every single drop of water is precious for the state and there is no question of sharing the water with any other state.

The Chief Minister said that “water of Punjab belongs to the state and no one will be allowed to divest the state from it. The state government will not allow anyone to deprive Punjab of its legitimate share. The BJP through its government in Haryana and center is trying to suppress the state and it is unfortunate that BBMB is passing new resolutions everyday to rob share of Punjab’s water. The state government is committed to safeguard the interests of the state and no one will be allowed to plunder our waters from us,” said Mann.

Later in the evening, during a meeting of both the states with BBMB, Punjab government reiterated its stand on not having a single drop to spare for Haryana. Punjab was represented by its water resources secretary water resources Krishan Kumar.

Kumar told the meeting that Haryana was seeking this water for irrigation purposes and not for drinking. He said as per norms per capita requirement to fulfil the drinking water needs for a single person is 135 litres per day. The supply of 8500 cusecs decided for Haryana is more than sufficient to cater to the drinking water needs of population of about 15 crore whereas population of Haryana is only around 3 crores. Hence the demand made by Haryana for additional 8500 cusecs is not justified. The actual requirement of water for drinking purposes of Haryana for population of 3 crore is not more than 1700 cusecs. Haryana is also learnt to have stuck to its stand.