Chandigarh, May 4 — Amid the ongoing dispute between Punjab and Haryana over water distribution, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday held the Centre responsible for what he described as a deliberate inaction that is worsening the crisis.
At a press conference, Surjewala questioned the central government’s silence and alleged that it is avoiding intervention to politically benefit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.
“Why is the Narendra Modi government not issuing written directions under Article 257 of the Constitution to stop this obstruction?” Surjewala, a Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana, asked.
“Why is it not directing the Punjab government to ensure Haryana receives its share of water?”
He further claimed that Punjab Police personnel had been stationed at the Bhakra headworks, allegedly hindering the release of water to Haryana.
“The Bhakra control site is under illegal occupation,” Surjewala said. “The Centre must immediately step in and hand over the dam’s security to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).”
The water-sharing dispute intensified after the Punjab government boycotted a Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) meeting on Saturday. At the same time, political parties in Haryana jointly demanded the unconditional release of water.
The AAP-led Punjab government argues that Haryana has already exceeded its allocated quota—using 103 percent of its share by March—and is not entitled to more.
However, the Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan had on Friday supported the BBMB’s decision to release 4,500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana for eight days to meet urgent needs.
Surjewala dismissed the Punjab government’s justification and accused the Centre of orchestrating the situation to suppress Congress prospects in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
“This entire controversy is being manufactured to portray Bhagwant Mann as a hero and block Congress from gaining ground in the state,” he alleged.
Citing dam statistics, Surjewala said there is currently 1,556 feet of water in the Bhakra reservoir, well above the safety threshold of 1,506 feet.
“Even if Haryana receives 8,500 cusecs per day, the level will only drop to 1,532 feet by May 21—still above the danger mark. So where is the crisis?” he said.
According to Surjewala, the decision to cut Haryana’s water supply from 8,500 to 4,000 cusecs has worsened the already dire situation in several districts, including Kaithal, Jind, Sirsa, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Fatehabad.
“Ponds are dry, cattle are dying of thirst, and tanker mafias are charging Rs 1,000 per tanker,” he said.
“The people are suffering, but the chief ministers of both states are busy trading barbs while the central government sleeps,” Surjewala said, adding that the failure to act on such a basic necessity reflects “a complete collapse of governance and moral responsibility.”
