Chandigarh/Sri Muktsar Sahib, May 3:
Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today lambasted that Haryana is spreading misconceptions of the water sharing issue.
While addressing the media persons on the sideline of the function, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal disclosed all facts related to this matter, asserting that Punjab has not withheld anyone’s rightful share and will neither surrender its own rights nor bow to pressure from the Center or Haryana. He clarified that Punjab’s interests come first for the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government and only Punjab has rights over its waters.
Elaborating on this issue with detailed facts, the Cabinet Minister informed that the water distribution from dams has been occurring according to stored volume for around 44 years. Haryana was allocated 2.987 MAF of water this year and has already utilized its allocated share. He said that Haryana has exceeded its target by using a total of 104 percent of its water allocation, mentioning that the Punjab government has been writing letters to Haryana since January about this matter and keeping the union government informed.
Sh. Goyal revealed that a letter was also written on March 17, 2025, warning Haryana that it was not using its share of water judiciously, which could lead to difficulties in the coming days. However, instead of improving its water management, Haryana consumed all its water allocation by March itself. He said that on March 31, Haryana requested for drinking water, indicating that it needed 1500 cusecs of water for its population of 2.8 crores, at a standard rate of 135 liters per person per day. It also requested 1149 cusecs for Delhi and cited additional needs for industry and even animals, totaling a demand of 4082 cusecs. Out of humanitarian consideration, the Punjab government began releasing 4000 cusecs of water for Haryana from April 4 to meet drinking water requirements, but now Haryana is demanding 8500 cusecs, which is impossible to provide.
Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that Haryana argues previous governments had provided this water. The Water Resources Minister said that previous governments failed to protect Punjab’s water resources and Punjab wasn’t even utilizing its own share then. However, since Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government took office, continuous efforts have been made to ensure water reaches Punjab’s fields. He said that within three years, we have ensured full water supply reaches the tail ends of canals. More than 16,000 water courses have been constructed and rejuvenated. Similarly, more than Rs.4550 crore have been spent on developing the canal infrastructure, while Rs.3264 crore are being spent this year. In this way, we are no longer letting Punjab’s water go to waste in other states and Punjab’s water is reaching state’s fields, which will increase farmers’ yields while also beginning to conserve groundwater. All these facts clearly showcase that Punjab neither infringes upon anyone’s rights nor relinquishes its own, he added.
Speaking on the issue, Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also said that Punjab does not have surplus water to give to anyone and will protect its rights at any cost.
Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur also reiterated that Punjab’s water is exclusively for our state and the Center or Haryana will not be permitted to plunder it.
MLAs Prof. Baljinder Kaur, Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon were also present on this occasion.
