Mann said his firm stand during the Northern Zonal Council meeting forced the Union Home Minister to defer all 11 Punjab-related items. He rejected Haryana’s demands on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, mini hydel projects on the Bhakra Main Line and accreditation of Haryana colleges to Panjab University.

He also opposed Rajasthan’s proposal to appoint a full-time member on the Bhakra Beas Management Board. Mann argued that Punjab cannot spare any water and suggested converting the SYL to the Yamuna-Sutlej Link by diverting Yamuna waters to Haryana. He also called for a review of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Mann demanded the return of Chandigarh to Punjab and elections to the Panjab University Senate. He flagged concerns over UT-cadre DANICS officers taking key posts in the Chandigarh Administration.

He said Punjab would not allow “stepmotherly treatment” and urged the Centre to protect the state’s rights, including staffing ratios and control over headworks.

The post Punjab Rights Resources Dispute Intensifies appeared first on India Podcast.

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.

The post Punjab Has No Water: Mann Questions Why Yamuna Can’t Go to Haryana appeared first on India Podcast.

The problem is worst in Nihala Lavera, Dheera Ghara, Talli Gulam, Kaluwala, Tandiwala, Bhane Wali Basti, and Navi Gatti Rajo Ke. Mandeep Kaur of Dheera Ghara said she never imagined Punjab, the land of five rivers, would see people survive only on bottled water.

Health Minister Balbir Singh visited the flood-hit areas. He urged villagers to boil water, use chlorine tablets, and drink ORS-mixed water to avoid disease. He told health officials to send safe drinking water without delay.

Village leaders say no water tanks have reached them yet. Gurjant Singh, sarpanch of Nihala Lavera, asked the government to install RO systems in affected villages. Malkeet Singh of Kaluwala warned that borewell and handpump water is unsafe, putting residents at serious risk.

The post Sutlej Villages Face Water Crisis After Floods appeared first on India Podcast.

He stated that Punjab’s rivers, once a blessing, had now become a curse because of poor planning and mismanagement. “This is not destiny, it is a man-made disaster and a government failure,” Sidhu said. He added that while politicians fed their greed, Punjab continued to face the brunt of floods.

According to Sidhu, the crisis has deep roots in chronic mismanagement of river systems and weak governance. He pointed to illegal mining and unchecked siltation as the main reasons behind the rising water levels. Sidhu urged that Punjab needed urgent corrective measures before the situation worsened further.

The Congress leader’s statement has added fuel to the political debate, with questions now being raised about accountability and long-term planning to prevent such disasters in the future.

The post Punjab Floods a Man-Made Disaster: Navjot Singh Sidhu appeared first on India Podcast.

The AAP legislator accused Punjab Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Krishan Kumar of not allowing soil to be lifted from the Tangri and Ghaggar rivers to strengthen embankments. “Nearly 11 villages in my constituency are already facing flooding. If the Tangri overflows, the damage may worsen,” he warned.

Pathanmajra urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to shift such officers. “Villagers blame AAP MLAs for failing to prevent floods. It is difficult to explain that despite repeated requests, no one listens,” he said.

A senior official defended Kumar, stating he has not handled the mining charge since 2023, making it unfair to blame him for permissions.

Meanwhile, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav reviewed water flow in the Ghaggar and Tangri. She said water levels are receding in Rajpura and Ghanaur, but all departments remain on alert to tackle any emergency.

The post MLA Pathanmajra Accuses Officials of Misleading Punjab Govt appeared first on India Podcast.