Rupnagar (Punjab) [India], May 8 : Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Singh on Thursday accused the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) chairman of releasing water to Haryana without the government's consent and said that the BJP is taking "anti-Punjab decisions."
"BBMB is being used against Punjab to forcefully loot the water of Punjab. This morning, the BBMB chairman tried to release water to Haryana without Punjab's consent. We will not tolerate coercion of any kind. On one side, there is an atmosphere of war in the country; on the other side, the BJP is trying to rob the waters of Punjab by taking anti-Punjab decisions. We also know how to protect borders and also know how to protect our water," Punjab Chief Minister said, addressing mediapersons in Rupnagar.
He further said that the Punjab government is giving 4000 cusecs of water to Haryana on a humanitarian basis.
"But instead of thanking, decisions are being taken by holding BBMB meetings in an unconstitutional manner. Being a border state in war-like situations, instead of giving us relief, the BJP is creating a water crisis for us, due to which we are facing a double problem," he added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian asserted that both Haryana and Punjab are using water on the basis of need.
"Central Minister briefed the State Ministers on agriculture, particularly about promoting less water-intensive crops like fodder to conserve water... While some of these water-saving crops may slightly reduce productivity or income, the Central government must step in with compensation of Rs 17,000 per hectare... Cotton cultivation has also dropped to just one lakh hectares. Both states (Haryana and Punjab) are using water on the basis of the need," Khuddian said.
Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains demanded action against the BBMB Chairman and said that the Punjab is already giving plenty of water to Haryana.
"We are compelled to lock the gates. It is a matter of our water. We all know the situation facing the country, and Punjab being the border state, we are fighting for the country. Hundreds of our villages have been vacated; the whole state is on red alert. At a time like this, what emergency arose in Haryana that the BBMB Chairman comes early in the morning and asks that water be released into Haryana... We demand action against BBMB Chairman... All local leaders and people are sitting here on protest and we will continue till our CM does not arrive here and guides us on what to do next. On humanitarian grounds, we are already giving plenty of water to Haryana," Bains said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that rather than going to Bhakra Nangal, the government should have approached the Supreme Court.
"Rather than going to Bhakra Nangal, we should have gone to the Supreme Court. If the Court has taken or is going to take any decision against us, we should have approached the court first... Whenever our Chairman was changed, we should have mentioned it before the court that the Chairman should represent those with a share of 60 per cent. Bhakra Beas Management Board is working at the behest of the Central government and it is unfair to us. We should have fought the government, protested outside the residence of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, but we protested here at Nangal," Warring said.
Reacting to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water row between Punjab and Haryana, DIG Ropar Range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar said that strict action will be taken if anyone takes law and order into their hands.
"The Chairman said he would head to Chandigarh for a meeting with the CM. If anyone takes law and order into their hands, we will take strict action," DIG said.
Punjab has reaffirmed its commitment to its voluntary allocation while firmly refusing Haryana's latest request for 8,500 cusecs from the Bhakra Beas system, arguing that the cited emergency has ended.
Earlier on May 3, an all-party meeting was held under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini regarding the ongoing water sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, in which a resolution was unanimously passed in the meeting urging the Punjab government to implement, without conditions, the decisions of the BBMB technical committee.
On April 30, the BBMB ordered an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to be released to Haryana from the Bhakra-Nangal Dam. However, the Punjab government rejected the BBMB's decisions, raising concerns over decreasing water levels in key reservoirs.