NEW DELHI, May 24 — In a forceful address at the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann alleged that the state is facing systemic bias and injustice on multiple fronts, particularly in water sharing and administrative representation.
Mann rejected the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, advocating instead for the Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) canal to address Punjab’s severe water crisis. He stressed that Punjab has no surplus water, with rivers like the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej already running below capacity. Citing a 1954 agreement, he asserted Punjab’s entitlement to two-thirds of Yamuna’s waters, demanding the state’s inclusion in any fresh water allocation talks.
He slammed the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for releasing 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, allegedly in violation of Punjab’s objections. “This is not just unjust; it’s illegal,” Mann said, urging the Centre to rein in BBMB’s “biased approach.”
On security issues, Mann opposed the deployment of CISF at Nangal Dam, calling it “unwarranted” and harmful to Punjab’s jurisdiction over its own assets.
The Chief Minister also sought to restore Punjab’s share in the Chandigarh Administration, reminding the Centre of the 60:40 ratio convention between Punjab and Haryana for civil posts. He demanded the repeal of recent service rule amendments that, according to him, dilute Punjab’s representation.
Mann pressed for the release of pending Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme arrears for Scheduled Caste students, noting that Punjab has the highest SC population percentage in India and the scheme is vital for their education.
He also asked for central assistance to desilt Harike Headworks, a key water reservoir in Punjab, to improve its efficiency.
Outlining his government’s achievements, Mann spoke about doorstep public services, healthcare and education reforms, industrial growth, and women’s empowerment under the “Rangla Punjab” initiative.
Mann concluded with an appeal for special industrial packages for Punjab’s border districts, infrastructure grants, and enhanced farmer compensation, while calling for true cooperative federalism. “We must collaborate to build a developed India by 2047,” he said.
