Water Dispute Escalates: Saini Government to Approach Supreme Court Against Punjab

The water dispute between Haryana and Punjab has intensified, with the Nayab Singh Saini government now planning to approach the Supreme Court against the Punjab government. According to the latest development, a meeting in Delhi between officials of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the chief secretaries of Punjab and Haryana failed to reach an agreement on water allocation.

During the meeting, Punjab agreed to provide only 4,000 cusecs of water, while Haryana demanded 8,500 cusecs. Punjab has reduced Haryana's water allocation from the Bhakra canal from 8,500 cusecs to 4,000 cusecs. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has claimed that Haryana has already exhausted its water quota in March, and the 4,000 cusecs being provided now is purely on humanitarian grounds.

Mann, who recently visited Nangal Dam, stated that all dams in Punjab are facing water shortages. He alleged that "hooliganism" took place at the BBMB and asserted that the final decision on water allocation is Punjab's prerogative. Mann further declared that Punjab would not provide "a single drop of water" to Haryana before May 21, suggesting that Haryana should wait until then. 

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on April 27, claiming that the Punjab government was not respecting the decision taken by the BBMB on April 23, which had permitted an additional 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. This was separate from the 4,000 cusecs allocated to them on April 4.

CM Saini criticized the AAP government, suggesting that their actions were politically motivated due to the upcoming elections. He expressed concern that such disputes over drinking water were unprecedented, stating, "Punjab is our elder brother, why create differences between us? Punjab is my home; won't we go to Punjab? If Punjab remains thirsty, we will give our share of water to the people there." Saini warned that due to the Mann government's policies, the water that rightfully belongs to Haryana might end up flowing to Pakistan. 

The escalating dispute highlights the complex water-sharing issues between the neighboring states, which now appears headed for judicial intervention.