'BJP trying to take away rights': Punjab resolution on water row

The Punjab legislative assembly passed a resolution on Monday condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party in power at the Centre, accusing it of pressurizing the state to give additional water to party-ruled Haryana from the Bhakra dam, while seeking the annulment of a central law on dam safety.

- Gurpreet Nibber and Ravinder Vasudeva

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab legislative assembly passed a resolution on Monday condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party in power at the Centre, accusing it of pressurizing the state to give additional water to party-ruled Haryana from the Bhakra dam, while seeking the annulment of a central law on dam safety.

The resolution, moved by the Aam Aadmi Party government during a special session of the Punjab assembly also called for the reorganization of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which has jurisdiction over Bhakra, Nangal, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams.

"The BJP has been trying to take away the rights of Punjab through its governments in Haryana and at the Centre, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)," said Punjab water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, who moved the resolution.

Asserting that only 22% of Punjab's fields received canal water until 2021, but today around 60% of the fields in Punjab are getting canal water, the resolution said: "Punjab no longer has any spare water to give to any other state."