Chandigarh, Jan 28: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday reiterated that the state cannot spare any water for other regions while meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to discuss the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal issue.
During the deliberations in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister maintained that Punjab intends to protect its natural resources while treating its neighbor with a spirit of cooperation. He noted that the state is currently facing a significant water crisis which prevents any further sharing of river assets.
“We have no water to share with any other state, but as the elder brother of Haryana, we do not want to draw daggers with our neighbouring state and seek early resolution of this long-pending issue,” Mann stated during the dialogue.
The Chief Minister noted that the ground reality in Punjab has changed significantly over the decades. He mentioned that land for the canal is no longer available and cautioned that any attempt to impose the project could lead to serious law and order concerns within the state.
“Not even a single drop of Punjab’s rightful water can be allowed to be taken away,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the state government is following the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to protect water, which is equated with a fatherly figure in Gurbani.
