Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Slams Past Governments Over Water Rights, Rejects CISF Deployment at BBMB
Chandigarh, July 12 — In a powerful address during the ongoing Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema launched a scathing critique of previous state and central governments for what he called “systematic betrayal” of Punjab’s water rights. Cheema was speaking in support of a resolution to reject the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) proposal to deploy CISF personnel in place of Punjab Police at key installations.
Historical Betrayals Over Water Allocation
Cheema opened his remarks with reference to the 1954 agreement between Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, asserting that it allocated two-thirds of Yamuna waters to Punjab and one-third to UP. However, he alleged that in 1966, during the formation of Punjabi Suba, successive governments—particularly the congress, Akali Dal, and Jan Sangh—ignored this arrangement, weakening Punjab’s rightful claim.
The minister traced the SYL canal controversy, noting how disputes over water sharing have sparked political upheaval and even cost young lives, only to be manipulated later for political mileage.
Unfair Distribution of Ravi-Beas Waters
Highlighting the 1966 Reorganization Act, Cheema pointed out that it unjustly divided Sutlej water 60:40 between Punjab and Haryana, without any mention of the Ravi and Beas rivers. He recalled the 1972 Irrigation Commission’s acknowledgment of Punjab districts’ rights to Yamuna water but lamented that no political party followed up on it, leading to Haryana securing two-thirds of that water share unchallenged.
He called the 1981 Ravi-Beas water agreement under Congress a “colossal betrayal,” noting that Punjab received only 4 MAF of water, while Haryana (3.5 MAF) and Rajasthan (8.6 MAF)—states not even part of the Ravi basin—received the lion’s share. He also challenged former CM Darbara Singh for accepting this allocation.
CISF Deployment at BBMB Opposed
On the issue at hand, Cheema revealed that it was the Congress-led government in 2021, under CM Charanjit Singh Channi, which had agreed to hand over BBMB security to the CISF, despite Punjab Police managing the installations for 70 years without incident.
He strongly opposed this move, citing a Rs. 50 crore annual burden and calling it an unnecessary imposition. He framed it as part of a broader conspiracy involving both the then Congress state government and the BJP-led central government to undermine Punjab’s water interests and autonomy.
Centre Urged to Act on Yamuna-Sutlej Link Proposal
Cheema praised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for presenting a proposal to the Centre advocating for the construction of the Yamuna-Sutlej Link Canal, which would grant Punjab 60% of Yamuna’s waters. He also highlighted that Rs. 104 crore of BBMB funds have been withheld due to the absence of audits for the last 70 years—something his ministry is now rectifying.
Countering the BSF Jurisdiction Allegation
In response to Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa’s charge that the AAP government supported the Centre’s decision to bring 50 km of border area under BSF jurisdiction, Cheema clarified that the approval was granted during the previous Congress regime. He then challenged Bajwa to a debate on the matter, taking a sharp jab at his reputation for making “U-turns.”