Bhagwant Mann Bhagwant Mann denies reports on Punjab increasing water supply to Rajasthan
Chandigarh/IBNS: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday denied the reports about Punjab increasing river water supply to Rajasthan from the present 700 cusecs to 1200 cusecs and said that the state has no single drop of spare water to share with the other states.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the function, where the CM flagged off 98 emergency response vehicles, he said that Punjab was already making strenuous efforts to ensure optimum utilization of canal water in the state.
He added that the Sirhind Feeder which caters to the water needs of the entire Malwa region had a capacity of only 5200 cusecs of water whereas the Indira Gandhi canal which flows parallel to the feeder had a capacity of 18,000 cusecs of water.
Mann said that if Rajasthan needed the water it could get its own share released as Punjab was already finding it hard to cater to the needs of its own farmers.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has announced to stage a protest dharna at Abohar on Wednesday against what it termed Mann’s “surrender on river waters” to Rajasthan.
A statement issued by the Party President Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he would lead the dharna which will begin at 11 am.
This comes after reports had quoted the Rajasthan leader Hanuman Beniwal claiming that Punjab Chief Minister had committed to increase river water supply to Rajasthan from the present 700 cusecs to 1200 cusecs during their meeting at Bathinda on Sunday.
[With UNI inputs]
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