Rohtak (Haryana) [India], May 3 : Amidst the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Haryana, former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda called for a special session of the state Assembly and an all-party meeting to address the crisis.
Terming the issue "very serious," Hooda warned that it could lead to a drinking water crisis in Haryana.
"I had said earlier as well that Government should call an all-party meeting as well as a special session of the Assembly. They have called the all-party meeting at 2 pm tomorrow (3rd May) in Chandigarh. I, too, will attend it. But this is a very serious issue. This is going to cause a great loss. It will cause a drinking water crisis", Hooda told reporters on Friday.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Punjab CM Bhagwan Mann raised concerns over the decreasing water level in key reservoirs. He mentioned that the water levels in Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam are 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet below last year's levels, respectively.
Earlier in the day, reacting to Bhagwant Mann's statement on the sharing of water dispute, Haryana CM Saini said no one should talk like this, as everyone's life depends on water. He further called Mann's comments "unfortunate," urging leaders to avoid politicising water issues that impact lives across state lines.
"One should not talk like this because a person's life depends on water. It is not that we do not have even a drop of water; I request everyone not to do politics. This is unfortunate because this type of politics does not last long. It harms the state, and oneself as well", Saini told ANI during the 'Walk for Drug Free Chandigarh' event.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated after the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) directed Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. CM Mann strongly opposed the directive, stating that Punjab is already grappling with its own water needs due to the upcoming paddy sowing season and declining groundwater levels.
Amidst the escalating concerns over Punjab's water rights, Bhagwant Mann had called an all-party meeting on May 2 to discuss Punjab's water rights. Additionally, the Punjab government is likely to call a special session of the Assembly on Monday to table a proposal addressing the issue.