Punjab in deep waters over canal

Punjab's conflict with its neighbours over sharing of river waters seems unending. This time, it’s Himachal Pradesh that has come knock...

Punjab’s conflict with its neighbours over sharing of river waters seems unending. This time, it’s Himachal Pradesh that has come knocking on the Centre’s door with a plea against Punjab’s refusal to pay its dues towards the laying of a major irrigation canal in the Himalayan state.

Himachal’s Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh told the Centre during his visit last week, that Punjab’s action of unilaterally scrapping its water-sharing treaties with all neighbours last year, had dealt a severe blow to the Shah nehar (canal) project. The project in the Kangra district was envisaged following a major agitation by farmers in 93 villages, after their land was rendered barren due to the construstion of a major barrage on the river Beas, for a major hydro-electric project in Punjab.

As per an agreement signed between the two states in 1983, Punjab was supposed to foot nearly 61 per cent of the canal’s cost. However, Punjab dithered, and only after a lot of haggling, did it make a one-time payment of Rs 29 crore. The canal was being constructed to supply irrigation water to 37,000 acres of land.

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Himachal has now asked the Centre to foot Punjab’s share of the bill. Singh, during his discussions about the state’s plan with the Planning Commission has asked for a one-time Central grant of Rs 120 crore to finish the Shah nehar project.

Official sources said public outrage was building in Himachal over Punjab’s backing out of its commitment. ‘‘There were suggestions that we start draining the waters of the Pong dam to supply to the parched land,’’ a senior Himachal officer told The Indian Express.

Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh is learnt to have suggested that the Planning Commission take note of Punjab’s past record of ignoring its commitments. He also suggested that instead of the Planning Commission allocating special funds to Punjab under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for the Shah nehar project, it should directly release the money to Himachal.