Govt would seek time from PM to take an all-party delegation to represent Punjab’s case – CM

Chandigarh, Jan 23 (Punjab Post Bueau) – The Chief Minister later welcomed the positive and constructive suggestions given by leaders of all the parties and said his government would seek time from the Prime Minister to take an all-party delegation to represent Punjab’s case. The internationally accepted riparian principles had been ignored in the distribution of water in India, he pointed out, stressing the need to correct the same. He also announced that his government would hold such all-party meetings every six months to discuss important issues related to the state. 

Terming the water problem a vital issue of concern to the whole of Punjab, and not just to his government or the Congress party, the Chief Minister, at the outset, set the tone for the meeting by pointing out that water had emerged as a global issue in view of the climate change and melting glaciers. Cities were predicted to go under water across the world, he noted, adding that while that “might not happen in our time, we owe it to the future generations to find a solution.” The meeting, he said, had been convened to discuss the issue threadbare and arrive at a consensus to facilitate the formulation of a cohesive and long-term policy. 

Expressing concern over the depleting ground water table, the Chief Minister observed that the level in Punjab Rivers had reduced from 17 MAF, as listed by the Eradi Commission, to less than 13 MAF now. His government, said the Chief Minister, had been pressing the Prime Minister to form a fresh Commission to assess the current water levels in Punjab’s three rivers. This was imperative in view of the changed situation, he told mediapersons after the meeting. The Chief Minister clarified that the Bains brothers had not been invited to the meeting as only political parties recognised by the Election Commission had been included in the list of invitees.

The other leaders who participated in the All Party Meeting included MLA Aam Aadmi Party Kultar Singh Sandhwan, SAD leader Tota Singh, BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia, CPI leaders Bhupinder Sambhar, Dr. Joginder Dayal, Secretary CPI (M) Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon,, CPI (M) leader Bhup Chand, State General Secretary BSP Nachhattar Pal, State Secretary of BSP Dr. Jaspreet Singh, Trinamool Congress State General Secretary Gurpreet Chauhan, Roshan Lal Goel and NCP leader Gurinder Singh.  

Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Razia Sultana, CM’s Media Advisor Raveen Thukral, CM’s Political Secretary Capt. Sandeep Sandhu, Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary Water Resources A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary to CM Tejveer Singh, Special Principal Secretary to CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Special Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Gaggandip Singh Brar.