Faridabad: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has recently claimed that this was the right time to find a resolution for water-related issues related to the concerned states, in the wake of the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.
Mann stated that the Chenab River could potentially be connected to the Ravi and Beas rivers, where dams already manage the downstream water flow. He further suggested that if the Chenab River is to be linked with rivers Ravi and Beas, the surplus water inflow could be utilised gainfully by the downstream states, including Punjab, for both power generation and irrigation purposes. The extra water will also help Punjab to meet its shortfall of water, particularly in the Border areas, he added.
CM Mann vehemently opposed the idea of raising the Full Reservoir Levels (FRLs) of Bhakra and Pong dams. After the horrors of the 1988 floods, he mentioned that the FRLs were decreased to ensure the safety of lives and property in Punjab, the only state that faces the consequences of these floods. Bemoaning the lives and vegetations lost in the catastrophic 2019, 2023 and 2025 floods, he reasserted that current FRLs must be maintained.
The Chief Minister recalled that Punjab suffered massive losses of nearly Rs 13,500 crore last year, while Rajasthan faced no impact and has itself stated that it cannot take any additional water during floods. He expressed that modifying or increasing siltation and signs of structural stress, raising the FRLs will compel emergency releases, endangering downstream habitations in Punjab. Hence, the ideal solution is desiltation, no elevation of FRL’s, and Punjab urges that BBMB be directed to maintain the current levels as the state has been suffering huge losses due to floods over the last so many years.
CM emphasised that the state has no surplus water to spare and pointed out that the Government of India decided the states’ water-sharing ratios in 1976 and 1981 without any scientific evaluation of actual water availability. He said Punjab has questioned the 17.17 MAF estimate since 1981, noting that global water agreements call for a reassessment every 25 years.
CM Mann said the availability of Ravi–Beas waters has significantly declined, 75% of Punjab’s blocks are over-exploited, and the matter is under adjudication before the Ravi–Beas Tribunal. He believes that any future discussion must be continued after a fresh, scientific reassessment of water availability and only after Punjab’s essential requirements are fully secured. Following the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Government of India must consider diverting the waters of all western rivers to India.
The Chief Minister said the Centre and states must take appropriate steps to prevent Yamuna floodwaters from flowing into the Bay of Bengal. With the water-sharing MoU up for review after 2025, he demanded that Punjab’s claim be fairly considered. He also noted that Punjab has requested to be included in the Yamuna and Sharda–Yamuna Link projects, but this request has not yet been addressed.
CM Mann raised these legitimate concerns about his state in front of Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, held in Faridabad on Monday.
