Chandigarh, May 5: In a defiant stance against the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s directive, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday asserted it will not release any additional water to Haryana, setting the tone for a heated political and inter-state standoff.
The one-day special session was convened solely to debate the April 30 BBMB order asking Punjab to supply 8,500 cusecs of extra water—an ask the state has firmly rejected.
The session began with tributes to the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with MLAs observing a two-minute silence before taking up the contentious water issue.
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The House reconvened at 12 p.m. to take up a key issue: the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)’s April 30 order, which directed Punjab to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana.
Punjab has so far been releasing 4,000 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Dam, but has now refused to comply with the demand for an additional 4,500 cusecs.
Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal introduced the resolution under discussion, stating unequivocally, “Punjab will not give any of its water to any other state.”
In a rare show of unity, all opposition parties in Punjab have backed the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on this matter.
The political consensus reflects widespread sentiment in the state regarding the protection of its water resources.
Two AAP MPs, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Malwinder Singh Kang, were present in the Speaker’s Gallery during the session. Former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur was also seen in the Visitors’ Gallery.
