New Delhi, August 5:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday urged the Government of India (GOI) to duly utilize the water of Chenab river to resolve long pending water dispute between the states of Punjab and Haryana by shelving Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) issue.
Taking part in deliberations during a meeting called by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil over the issue of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the Chief Minister said that during the last meeting held on July 9, the Union Government informed that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan has been suspended, which opens up a major opportunity for India to utilize water from the Chenab river, one of the western rivers earlier given to Pakistan under the treaty. He said that the centre should now divert Chenab’s water to Indian dams like Ranjit Sagar, Pong, or Bhakra adding that to carry this extra water, new canals and infrastructure would be required which would be built in Punjab state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these canals and infrastructure can be first used to meet the needs of the state and after Punjab’s requirements are met, the water can be supplied to Haryana and Rajasthan through the same canal system.
The Chief Minister said that using Chenab water will reduce Punjab’s dependence on groundwater, revive surface irrigation and support the farming community, which is the backbone of Punjab’s economy besides saving groundwater of the state for future generations. He said that Punjab, which is currently facing groundwater depletion, must be prioritized in any future strategies for the usage, diversion, or allocation of these river waters. Bhagwant Singh Mann vehemently pleaded that the waters of the western rivers should be allocated to Punjab on a priority basis adding that new storage dams upstream of existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh should be constructed, which will significantly enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters.
Batting for shelving of the SYL canal issue, the Chief Minister unequivocally said that Sarda Yamuna link for transfer of surplus Sarda water to the Yamuna River and diversion of Chenab water to River Beas through Rohtang tunnel should be done to eliminate the need for the SYL canal. He said that the long-conceived project of Sharda-Yamuna Link should be taken up on priority and surplus water be transferred to the river Yamuna at a suitable location. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the additional water so available could offset the balance water requirement of the state of Haryana from the Ravi- Beas system apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of the capital city of Delhi and availability of the Yamuna water to the state of Rajasthan.
The Chief Minister said that under the aforesaid eventuality again the issue of construction of SYL canal could be shelved and put to rest forever. Batting for Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL) canal, he said that the MoU of May 12, 1994 of allocation of Yamuna waters between Delhi, U.P, H.P. and Rajasthan is to be reviewed after 2025. So, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab should be included as partner state of Yamuna waters allocations and 60% waters of surplus Yamuna should be considered for the state while apportioning the Yamuna waters.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana has enough scope to get additional waters from other sources which also needs to be accounted for. He said that Haryana is also receiving 2.703 MAF of River Ghaggar, Tangri Nadi, Markanda River, Saraswati Nadi, Chautang-Rakshi, Nai Nalah, Sahibi Nadi, Krishna Dhuan and Landoha Nalah which is unaccounted till now while deciding the allocations of water between the states. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that SYL canal is an ’emotive issue’ and Punjab will have serious law and order issues and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also bearing the brunt.
The Chief Minister categorically said that land for SYL canal is not available as of today adding that out of 34.34 MAF water of three rivers, Punjab was allocated only 14.22 MAF, which is 40%. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the remaining 60% was allocated to Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, even though none of these rivers actually flow through these states. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to reduction in surface waters, pressure is putting on ground waters Ground adding that out of 153 blocks in Punjab, 115 have been declared over-exploited (75%), whereas in Haryana 61% (88 out of 143) are over exploited.
The Chief Minister said that the number of tube wells in the state has increased from 6 lakhs in 1980’s to 14.76 lakh in 2018 (this includes the tube well installed only for agriculture) showing an increase of more than 200% during the last 35 years. He said that Punjab has the highest rate of groundwater extraction (157%) in the entire nation, even higher than Rajasthan (150%) adding that Punjab ignores its own water requirement and gives about 60% water to meet the water requirements of non-riparian states in which Ravi-Beas and Sutlej Rivers do not pass. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab made a major contribution of 124.26 lakh metric tonne of wheat during 2024 which is 47% of the total procured in India and also contributed 24% rice in the centre pool.
The Chief Minister said that the total water requirement of Punjab is 52 MAF and water available with the state of Punjab is only 26.75 MAF (Surface water from three rivers 12.46 MAF and Ground water 14.29 MAF). He said that the water of the Punjab Rivers is shared among the partner states whereas the flood from these rivers caused damage only in Punjab putting the State of Punjab to a huge financial burden every year. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as the benefits are shared in a certain ratio among the partner states, it is therefore imperative if the State of Punjab is appropriately compensated by the partner states regarding the damages and destructions caused by the floods on an annual basis.
The Chief Minister said that agreements and decisions of tribunals should be reviewed in light of changed circumstances and environmental developments, as international norms mandate a review every 25 years. He said that Punjab seeking share of Yamuna water is similar to Haryana’s share of Ravi Beas waters as Irrigation Commission Report, Government of India, 1972 held that Punjab is riparian to Yamuna river. Bhagwant Singh Mann lamented that GOI is of the view that Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966 is silent about Yamuna Waters as these waters were not considered shareable between Punjab and Haryana whereas the Act is also silent about Ravi Waters adding that Punjab has already enacted “Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004”, terminating 1981 Agreement relating to Surplus Ravi-Beas waters.
