Punjab Haryana water dispute LIVE UPDATES: Punjab CM calls all-party meeting on May 2; special Assembly session on water allocation to Haryana on May 5
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called a special session of the Punjab Assembly on Monday over BBMB’s decision to allocate additional water to Haryana. The Chief Minister made this announcement today during a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. He also stated that an all-party meeting on the issue will be held tomorrow, May 2, followed by the special Assembly session on Monday.
Punjab announces one-day special Assembly session on Monday over water dispute
Haryana Minister Vipul Goel said those who play politics over water ultimately face consequences. He cited the previous Kejriwal-led government in Delhi as the best example, accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government of indulging in petty and dirty politics over water. He added that just like in Delhi, AAP's position in Punjab is also set to weaken.
AAP convenes high-level meeting over water issue; Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to attend
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia has appealed to all the leaders of the Punjab not to politicise the issue and called for unity to fight for Punjab's rights.
????ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਦੇ 'ਤੇ ਸਿਆਸਤ ਛੱਡ ਆਓ ਸਭ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਲਈ ਖੜੀਏ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਕਿਸਾਨ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ, ਬਾਕੀ ਸਭ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹਨ।
— Bikram Singh Majithia (@bsmajithia) May 1, 2025
????BBMB ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਅਕਾਸ਼ਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਹਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਮਾਰੇ ਡਾਕੇ ਦੀ ਸਖਤ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿੰਦਿਆ… pic.twitter.com/PCJuIxVGsr
Punjab govt strongly objects BBMB's decision: CM Mann at Nangal
The Aam Aadmi Party and BJP involved in a heated face-off in Ludhiana over the water dispute.
BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu has slammed Punjab government for politicising the water row. He alleged that AAP government failed to stand its ground in the recent meeting.
Shedding crocodile tears, AAP failed to stand its ground in the recent meeting. Unprepared & clueless, their team stayed silent as Haryana demanded more water. Why didn’t CM Mann defend Punjab’s needs? BJP stands firm: not a drop of Punjab’s water will go elsewhere.
— Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) May 1, 2025
As of date, the water level in Bhakra is at 1,555 feet and Pong at 1,293 feet. The water level in Pong is lower than the 25-year average of 1,319 feet. The water from Pong cannot be drawn as turbines are under repair, besides the low levels in Ranjit Sagar Dam are also a hurdle for drawing more water, said a chief engineer of Punjab irrigation department. Punjab says it has agreed to give 4,000 cusecs to Haryana during this period to meet its drinking water requirements.
A closed-door meeting is underway between Punjab and Senior BBMB officials at Nangal dam.
The water dispute between Punjab and Haryana intensified following BBMB's directives issued to Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs water to Haryana in a meeting held on Wednesday with representatives from Punjab in attendance. The water regulation body's directives drew strong objection from Punjab citing that the state does not have surplus owing to rabi sowing and demand.
Two senior officials of Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) have been transferred following the water regulation body's directives for Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. Akashdeep Singh who was posted as Director of water regulation body will now assume the post of Director Safety, BBMB Nangal. Meanwhile another officer Sanjeev Kumar will now oversee as the Director of water regulation body.
Shiromani Akali Dal Presiden Sukhbir Singh Badal has criticised BJP government over BBMB's directives for Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. He has alleged that BJP ruled states have ganged up with the Government of India to rob Punjab of its legitimate share of water from the Bhakra dam in a recent meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
BJP ruled states of Haryana, Rajasthan & Delhi have ganged up against Punjab in collision with GOI to rob Punjab of its legitimate share of water from the Bhakra dam in a recent meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board. This unprecedented bullying & looting of Punjab’s… pic.twitter.com/6N58CagnG3
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) May 1, 2025
Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora has written a letter to state BJP President Sunil Jakhar and questioned his silence over the matter.
PTC News Desk: The Bhakhra Beas Management Board has directed Punjab to immediately release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. The decision was taken during a meeting held on Wednesday which witnessed Punjab's strong objection.
The meeting was convened on the directions of Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar with representatives from Punjab government also in attendance who strongly objected to the decision.
The BBMB, which regulates water distribution from the Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar Dams asserted that the water must be supplied to Haryana triggering sharp resistance from Punjab’s irrigation department. Meanwhile, Punjab contended that the state lacks surplus water owing to summer demand and rabi sowing season.
“Since November, we have been saying that Haryana has not conserved its share of water, but it failed to catch the attention of BBMB officials. However, the BBMB stuck to its stance, leading to Punjab officials walking out of the meeting by giving a dissent note.
Punjab has accused Haryana of having already used 104 % of its allocated 2.987 MAF.
- PTC NEWS
