Row Over River Water Sharing: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Opposes Centre’s Move To Deploy CISF At Bhakra Dam
Chandigarh: Accusing the BJP-led Union government for, what he held, hatching conspiracies to ruin Punjab, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday held that the state government will oppose the Centre’s move to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Bhakra dam and will not give a single penny as expenditure on it.
It may be recalled that Punjab, which has the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Haryana, where BJP is in power, have been at loggerheads since April 23, last, over the issue of river water-sharing after BBMB decided to release more water to Haryana despite Mann’s strong objections to it.
The Punjab government refused to release extra water, claiming that Haryana had already exhausted 103% of its annual allocated share of water, while Haryana held Punjab indulged in ``dirty politics'' by twisting the facts.
Briefing newspersons, Mann held that while the Centre needed everything from Punjab in terms of food grains but on the other hand tried to snatch the waters of the state through this action. He said that instead of giving any special package to Punjab for its immense contribution, the BJP is meting out step-motherly treatment to the state.
Mann said that he will flag this issue before Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the meeting of the NITI Aayog slated to be held on Saturday. He held the BJP is resorting to such tactics because people of Punjab have never voted for them. He said that it is surprising to note that though Punjab leads the country in contribution to the food pool besides giving maximum representation in the Indian Army but the BJP led centre has always ignored the state.
The chief minister said that 296 cops of the CISF will be deployed at the Bhakra dam which will cost Rs 8.58 crore to the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ``why should we pay this money to the BBMB when Punjab police is already ensuring safety of the dam free of cost’’?
SAINI SLAMS MANN’S `ARROGANT STANCE’
Meanwhile, Haryana chief minister Nayab Saini on Thursday criticised his Punjab counterpart for what he alleged ``his arrogant attitude’’ regarding Haryana’s share of drinking water. He said that politicising such a sensitive and essential issue reflects poorly on a public leader, especially during a time when serving water is considered an act of virtue across the country.
For record, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan get their water share from Bhakra and Pong dams managed by BBMB which decides the annual quota for the trio states from May 21 to May 21.
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