Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday strongly defended his government’s stance in the ongoing river water-sharing dispute with Haryana, asserting that Punjab had issued timely warnings to its neighbor about exceeding its water quota. Speaking during a special session of the Punjab Assembly, Mann also called for the reconstitution of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), describing it as a “white elephant” being misused for political interests.
The session was convened amid an escalating row between Punjab and Haryana over the release of water. Mann maintained that Punjab had not abruptly stopped Haryana’s supply, claiming that Haryana had been drawing over 90% of its allocated water for several years. He added that multiple warnings had been issued in BBMB meetings, and six letters per month had been sent in recent months to flag the overuse.
Highlighting the severity of the water shortage, Mann noted that water levels in Punjab’s dams were 55 feet lower compared to the previous year. Despite this, he said, the state was still releasing 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana.
Tensions flared further as Mann questioned the role of Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh for not casting its vote during a recent BBMB meeting that allowed the release of 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. This sparked a verbal exchange with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, who criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for contradictory statements, citing Haryana AAP chief Sushil Gupta’s promise to ensure water reaches every part of the state.
Mann, in a sharp political dig, questioned the Congress party’s historical role in the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, referencing the 1982 groundbreaking at Kapoori and former CM Amarinder Singh’s political shift to the BJP.
The chief minister also accused the BBMB of operating unconstitutionally, alleging that midnight meetings were being held without consulting Punjab and that water was being diverted under pressure from other states.
“Punjab’s water is not surplus. Every drop counts now,” Mann said, crediting his government for increasing canal water coverage from 22% in 2021 to nearly 60% of agricultural land.
Mann also criticized the Dam Safety Act, 2021, labeling it a threat to Punjab’s autonomy over its water infrastructure. Congress leader Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa called on the government to counter the central law with a state-specific statute, to which Mann responded that a draft Punjab law was already underway.
Separately, the Assembly passed the Punjab Law Officers (Engagement) Amendment Bill, 2025, aimed at increasing representation of Scheduled Caste candidates in the office of the advocate general. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who introduced the bill, said it fulfills the AAP’s commitment to empower lawyers from underprivileged backgrounds.
The special Assembly session underscored Punjab’s firm position on water rights and governance, with Mann reiterating that the state has no additional water to share and emphasizing the need for a periodic review of inter-state water agreements.
