Centre should solve Yamuna water issue before asking for Sutlej water: Harpal Cheema

Punjab: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Friday said that according to a 1954 agreement, Punjab has the right over two-third of Yamuna water and Uttar Pradesh over the remaining one-third. Cheema was speaking before the special session of the Punjab Assembly began. “All political parties in the state, especially the Congress and the Akali-BJP, have deliberately ignored this issue for years. They deliberately did not even mention it,” he said. Cheema said the Centre should resolve the Yamuna water issue before asking for Sutlej water.

He said the Congress’ Charanjit Channi government had compromised by allocating Rs 50 crore for CISF security at the Bhakra dam. He alleged that Punjab’s rights over the Bhakra Beas Management Board water were compromised. He said the Akali government also compromised Punjab’s rights over Yamuna water. Cheema said, “The 1972 Irrigation Commission had clearly shown that two big districts, Sangrur and Patiala, fall in the Yamuna basin. Instead of respecting Punjab’s water rights, they are demanding additional water for Haryana. They should resolve old issues before talking about Sutlej water.”