Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], May 8 (HBTV): Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Wednesday defended Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's refusal to release additional water to Haryana, asserting that the neighboring state had already consumed its share.

'Our Chief Minister has taken a firm stand on the water issue. Haryana has used its share of water. Punjab is experiencing a massive water crisis. The majority of our blocks are in the dark zone. Punjab is doing tremendous work on irrigation. The BJP wants to derail this work... Haryana is determined to take Punjab's share of water, but no one will give that,' Bains told ANI.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had earlier criticised Mann's remarks on water distribution, calling them shocking. He stated that he had personally spoken to the Punjab Chief Minister on April 26 and informed him that the Technical Committee of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had decided to release water to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan on April 23. However, he alleged that Punjab officials were reluctant to implement the decision.

Saini added that Mann had assured him during the phone call that instructions would be given to officers for immediate implementation the next morning. However, according to a Haryana government release, by 2 pm on April 27, no action had been taken and Punjab officials had even stopped responding to communication. Saini said he later wrote a letter to Mann detailing the developments.

He further expressed surprise that instead of replying to the letter, Mann released a video 48 hours later which he claimed misled the public and served to enhance the Chief Minister's political image.

Refuting Mann’s assertion that past water distribution records were not maintained, Saini said such claims were baseless and that each drop of water was meticulously recorded by BBMB and the governments of Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana.

He accused Mann of politicising the issue and clarified that Haryana had not received its full water share, but only 60 per cent.

'He is trying to politicise this issue. I would like to clarify that the SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link) canal matter is under the supervision of the Supreme Court. But this issue is not about SYL's water. It is about the issue of drinking water... Haryana has not yet received its full share. In the last week, Haryana received only 4,000 cusecs of drinking water, which is approximately 60% of the state's total demand. If BBMB provides the remaining water per Haryana's demand, it will be only 0.0001% of Bhakra Dam's water reservoir,' Saini told the media.

He urged Mann to set aside political differences and cooperate in ensuring drinking water supply to Haryana. He also emphasised the need to empty the Bhakra Dam reservoir before June to store monsoon rainwater, warning that if the dam overflows, excess water would flow into Pakistan through Hari-ke-Pattan, which would be detrimental to both Punjab and the nation.

'Bhagwant Mann, I request you to rise above narrow perspectives, cooperate for the nation's interest, and ensure the supply of proper drinking water to Haryana,' Saini said.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also criticised the Punjab Chief Minister.

'When the nation stands united against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, CM Bhagwant Mann chooses to divide states over water. Not a single drop of Punjab's water will be given away — but this is no time for political posturing,' Bittu posted on X.

(ANI)