Led by CM, All Political Parties in Punjab Display Rare Unity to Protect State’s River Waters
In a powerful and united stand, all political parties in Punjab, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, came together today to denounce the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) controversial decision to divert Punjab’s River waters. In a meeting convened at Punjab Bhawan, parties set aside political differences and pledged to protect the state’s rightful share of water.
Senior political figures from across the spectrum—including Congress leaders Rana KP Singh and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Akali leaders Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Daljeet Singh Cheema, BJP’s Sunil Jakhar and Manoranjan Kalia, BSP’s Avtar Singh Karimpuri, CPM’s Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon, and CPI’s Bant Singh Brar—united in appreciation of the CM’s initiative. They commended Bhagwant Mann’s leadership in rallying political consensus on such a critical issue.
The leaders condemned BBMB’s unilateral and coercive attempts to alter water distribution, warning that such moves threaten Punjab’s lifeline. They jointly urged the state government to explore all legal, political, and administrative channels to uphold Punjab’s water rights.
All parties assured full support to the Chief Minister in this endeavor. They also acknowledged Punjab’s humanitarian gesture of supplying 4000 cusecs of water daily to Haryana to meet drinking water needs, while criticizing Haryana and the BBMB’s aggressive push for further water diversion—calling it unjust, authoritarian, and anti-Punjab.
The political parties also denounced the Central Government’s interference, particularly the removal of Punjab’s nominee for the BBMB Member (Power) post, asserting that Punjab, holding a 60% stake in BBMB, deserves veto power to prevent adverse decisions by other stakeholders.
Chief Minister Mann expressed deep gratitude to all parties for their solidarity, stating that this moral support strengthens the government’s resolve. He announced that a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will be convened on Monday to formally oppose the Centre’s actions and BBMB’s recent resolutions.
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਸੈਸ਼ਨ ਬੁਲਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਪਾਰਟੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਬੜੀ ਸਮਝਦਾਰੀ ਤੇ ਸਹਿਜ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਹੱਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਆਪਣੇ-ਆਪਣੇ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੇ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ‘ਤੇ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਸੈਸ਼ਨ ‘ਚ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਚਰਚਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।
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पंजाब के पानी के… pic.twitter.com/UlIjQuwFso— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) May 2, 2025
“The Sikh Gurus have taught us to stand up against injustice and tyranny,” Mann said. “Punjab’s united front today shows that we will not allow anyone to usurp our water resources.”
CM Mann detailed how Haryana had exhausted its allotted BBMB share by March and had then requested Punjab’s help to meet even basic drinking water needs. Despite Haryana demanding far beyond its estimated requirement of 1700 cusecs—seeking up to 12,500 cusecs (4000 current plus 8500 additional)—Punjab continued to supply water in good faith.
He noted that the real intent behind Haryana’s demand appeared to be irrigation, not drinking water. Mann emphasized that Punjab, already facing severe groundwater depletion and record-low dam levels—Pong Dam (32 feet), Bhakra Dam (12 feet), and Ranjit Sagar Dam (14 feet) lower than last year—cannot afford such exploitation.
He also raised concern over procedural violations by BBMB, citing how a meeting that legally required a week’s notice was instead convened within three hours to push through water diversion to Haryana.
Reiterating his firm stand, CM Mann declared:
“Every drop of water is vital for Punjab’s survival. We will not let anyone, under any circumstances, plunder our rightful share. This is a battle for our future, and we will fight it with full determination.”