All-Party meet resolves unanimously not allow transfer of Punjab’s River water to non-basin areas

Resolution seeks amendments to proposed Inter State River Disputes Act

Chandigarh, Jan 23 (Punjab Post Bueau) – Expressing grave concern over the state’s critical water situation, an all-party meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Thursday demanded reassessment of the state’s water availability and unanimously resolved that the Government of India should ensure that Punjab river water is not in any way transferred from basin to non-basin areas of the state’s three rivers.

All parties also unanimously demanded suitable amendments to the proposed Inter State River Water Disputes Act to set up a new tribunal, to ensure that Punjab gets adequate water “in a just and equitable manner in keeping with its total demand and securing livelihood of the future generations.”

The RESOLUTION read: “Punjab does not have surplus water and is facing a threat of desertification with declining availability of its river water and fast depleting groundwater. State’s groundwater that meets 73 per cent of its irrigation requirements, has declined to alarming levels, threatening the livelihood of farmers and other poor people. 

“In such a situation, it is unanimously resolved that the Government of India should ensure that Punjab river water is not in any way transferred from basin to non-basin areas of three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas as per internationally accepted riparian principle. Further, alternatives should be ascertained, including amendments to the proposed Inter State River Water Disputes Act to set up a new tribunal for a complete de novo assessment of availability of river waters before final decision, to harness, develop and provide adequate water to Punjab in a just and equitable manner in keeping with its total demand and securing livelihood of the future generations.” 

The resolution was moved by Cabinet Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria at the all-party meeting convened by the Chief Minister to ascertain ways to address the state’s continuously aggravating water crisis.

Though the resolution did not mention SYL, leaders of all political parties, including the Akali Dal and AAP, termed any move to construct the canal fatal for the state. All the parties hailed the Chief Minister’s initiative in convening the meeting on the critical issue.