Chandigarh, Nov 18: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the Union government had agreed to defer 11 agenda items related to Punjab after he raised strong objections at the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Faridabad a day earlier. Of the 28 issues listed for discussion under Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s chairmanship, Mann said most of Punjab’s items centred on inter-state water sharing and administrative ratios for Chandigarh.
Mann said Shah ordered a status quo on the majority of Punjab-linked matters, while the contentious issue of staffing ratios in Chandigarh administration and institutions has been referred to the council’s standing committee. “I had gone to the meeting to lay Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh, and I was surprised to see Himachal making a fresh demand that they have a 7% claim on staffing posts,” he said.
The chief minister noted that neighbouring states continued to push for concessions from Punjab. “Everyone in the meeting described Punjab as the big brother. But everyone wanted something or the other from Punjab. My only refrain is that while the younger brothers prosper, the big brother should not be devastated,” he said.
Mann said he raised concerns over several matters, including the Centre’s recent attempt to reorganise the Panjab University syndicate—later withdrawn following student protests. He said he hoped the Centre would soon announce PU Senate and Syndicate election schedules.
Other contentious issues flagged by Mann included Haryana’s renewed push for water through the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal, Rajasthan’s fresh claim seeking control of the Harike and Ferozpur waterworks, and the appointment of members from Himachal and Rajasthan to the Bhakra Beas Management Board. He also cited the unresolved restoration of Punjab-Haryana staffing in Chandigarh administration in the 60:40 ratio.
The chief minister pointed out that even the token amount of ₹1,600 crore promised by the Centre for flood relief had not yet been released. “While Punjab continues to fill the national food bowl and guard the borders, the state remains at the receiving end,” he said.
Mann said the long-term solution to the protracted SYL dispute lay in diverting Chenab waters toward Punjab and downstream states, particularly since the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan was “in abeyance”. He added that Punjab had also sought central support for large-scale desilting of Harike, Ranjit Sagar Dam and Bhakra Dam—a project estimated to cost ₹10,000 crore.
The chief minister further urged a comprehensive review of inter-state water agreements, arguing that they no longer reflect current realities.
