CHANDIGARH, July 12 — Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Friday demanded that the Centre resolve the long-pending issue of Punjab’s share in Yamuna waters before seeking any commitment from the state regarding the Satluj river. He also accused successive Congress and SAD-BJP governments of deliberately ignoring Punjab’s water entitlements over the years.
Speaking during the special session of the Punjab Assembly, Cheema referred to a 1954 agreement which, he said, granted Punjab rights over two-thirds of the Yamuna waters, with Uttar Pradesh entitled to the remaining one-third. “This issue has been consciously buried by political parties in the state, especially the Congress and the SAD-BJP combine,” he said.
Cheema criticised the Congress-led Charanjit Singh Channi government for allegedly compromising Punjab’s water rights by allocating ₹50 crore for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployment at Bhakra Dam. He argued this move indirectly undermined Punjab’s authority over the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
He also accused the Shiromani Akali Dal of ceding ground on the Yamuna water issue, stating: “The 1972 Irrigation Commission clearly identified that Sangrur and Patiala — two major districts — lie in the Yamuna basin. Yet, instead of honouring that, the Centre is demanding additional water from Punjab for Haryana.”
Cheema maintained that before any discussions on the Satluj waters proceed, older, unresolved disputes must be addressed. “They must first settle past injustices regarding the Yamuna before talking about sharing more from the Satluj,” he said.
