Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said on Friday that, as per a 1954 agreement, Punjab has the right to two-thirds of the Yamuna river water, while Uttar Pradesh has rights to the remaining one-third.
Speaking during the special session of the Punjab Assembly, Cheema accused all political parties, especially the Congress and SAD-BJP, of ignoring this issue for many years. He said they deliberately did not speak up about Punjab’s rights over the Yamuna water.
Cheema also said that the Central Government should first resolve the issue of Yamuna water before asking Punjab to share water from the Satluj river.
He criticized the Congress-led Charanjit Channi government for spending ₹50 crore on CISF security at Bhakra Dam, which he said weakened Punjab’s claim on water from the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
Cheema also blamed the SAD government for not protecting Punjab’s water rights. He pointed out that a 1972 Irrigation Commission report clearly showed that Sangrur and Patiala districts are part of the Yamuna basin, proving Punjab’s right to that water.
He said instead of demanding more water from Punjab for Haryana, the Centre should first resolve these old water-sharing issues.
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