Punjab Government Shoulders 60% of Nangal Hydel Channel Repair Costs, Seeks Fair Distribution

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu):Amid the escalating water dispute between Punjab and Haryana, the Bhakra Dam has started releasing water for Haryana and Rajasthan. The water release, which began at 1 PM on Wednesday (May 21), follows an agreement reached after a meeting on May 15. The release will provide Haryana with 9,325 cusecs of water, slightly less than the 10,300 cusecs initially demanded by the state. Additionally, Punjab will allocate 17,000 cusecs for its own use, while Rajasthan will receive 12,400 cusecs.

The move comes after nearly two weeks of no water release, heightening tensions over the distribution of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam’s resources. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the Bhakra-Nangal Dam to join the ongoing efforts to protect Punjab’s water rights. He emphasized that this was a historic moment for Punjab, as the state is now using its own water resources to benefit its farmers.

CM Mann also took the opportunity to address the issue of Haryana’s water demand. He stated that Punjab had previously provided more water than its fair share, including 16.48 lakh cusecs, well above the allocated 15.06 lakh cusecs. The Chief Minister also mentioned that Punjab has installed over 700 kilometers of irrigation pipelines, ensuring that the state can now utilize its water for agricultural purposes.

The ongoing dispute will be further examined in the High Court on Thursday, where the Punjab government will present its response. The court hearing will focus on the water allocation and the financial burden on Punjab, as the state has been shouldering a significant portion of the maintenance costs for the Nangal Hydel Channel.

CM Mann reassured that Haryana would receive its allocated water until May 2026, urging that the dispute not be politicized further. He also called for a fair resolution of the financial and operational aspects related to the water-sharing agreement. With the water issue unresolved, the dispute between the neighboring states is expected to remain a major point of contention in the coming months.