Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], May 11 (HBTV): Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday urged the people of both states to maintain peace. He stated that an all-party meeting held in Haryana passed a resolution asking the Punjab government to implement the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) decision to release Haryana’s rightful share of water.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said Haryana is facing a severe shortage of drinking water.

‘I want to tell Mann sahib (Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann) that this water doesn't belong to Punjab only but to the whole country... On 23rd April, the Bhakra Beas Management Board decided to give 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, but the Mann government did not honour this decision. On 30th April, in the BBMB meeting, a resolution was passed to implement the 23rd April decision. 12.55 MAF of water is allotted to Haryana against the 10.67 MAF currently being given to the state... Punjab is using more than its share. Haryana is getting 17 per cent less water than originally allocated... At least don't do politics on water meant for drinking purposes... Today, in Haryana, we are facing issues related to drinking water,’ the Haryana CM said.

He reiterated that the Punjab government must release Haryana’s allocated share and honour the BBMB’s directive.

‘In the all-party meeting today, it was decided that the Mann government (Punjab government) should release our share of water. We have also passed a resolution that the Punjab government should implement the decision taken by BBMB on 23rd April to release Haryana's share of water. We also appeal to the people of both states to maintain peace,’ he added.

The BBMB had recently ordered the release of an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. Earlier in the day, the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government convened an all-party meeting in Chandigarh to deliberate on the issue.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had, on May 1, raised concerns over declining water levels in major reservoirs. He pointed out that water levels at Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam are currently 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet below last year’s levels, respectively.

CM Mann strongly criticised the BBMB’s directive to release water to Haryana, arguing that Punjab is already struggling with its own water needs, especially ahead of the paddy sowing season and amidst a worsening groundwater crisis.

In response to growing tensions over water rights, Bhagwant Mann called an all-party meeting on May 2 to deliberate on Punjab’s position. The Punjab government is also likely to convene a special session of the Assembly on Monday to introduce a proposal addressing the issue.

(ANI)