The debate around Punjab has no water grew sharper as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann questioned why Haryana keeps demanding more when Punjab struggles with severe shortages. At the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Faridabad, he said Punjab has no water, so the Centre must rethink outdated sharing agreements.
Mann said the Union government agreed to defer eleven Punjab-related agenda items. Most of them involved water disputes with neighbouring states. He added that Himachal Pradesh raised a new claim, seeking 7% staffing rights in Chandigarh. Mann argued that every neighbouring state wants something from Punjab while ignoring Punjab’s own challenges.
The Chief Minister opposed Haryana’s demand for SYL canal water and suggested that Yamuna water should flow to Haryana instead. He said the SYL could shift to a YSL (Yamuna Sutlej Link) model to match today’s realities. He also pointed out Rajasthan’s claim over the Harike and Ferozpur waterworks and objections to new appointments on the BBMB.
Mann reminded the Centre about unpaid flood-relief funds worth ₹1,600 crore. He also sought major desilting projects for Harike, Ranjit Sagar Dam and Bhakra Dam, which would cost ₹10,000 crore. He welcomed the status quo ordered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on key Punjab issues.
