Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Friday asserted that under a 1954 agreement, Punjab holds rights over two-thirds of the Yamuna waters, while Uttar Pradesh is entitled to the remaining one-third.
Speaking before the special session of the Punjab Assembly resumed, Cheema accused previous governments—including those led by the Congress and the SAD-BJP—of deliberately ignoring Punjab’s rightful claim over Yamuna waters.
“All political parties in the state, mainly the Congress and SAD-BJP, have purposely ignored the subject over the years. They consciously did not mention it,” he said.
Cheema urged the Centre to resolve the Yamuna water disputebefore demanding Punjab’s share of Satluj waters. He also alleged that the Congress-led Charanjit Channi government compromised Punjab’s rights by allocating ₹50 crore for CISF deployment at the Bhakra dam, which he said undermined the state’s control over the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
Criticizing the SAD as well, Cheema said their government failed to defend Punjab’s rights over Yamuna waters. Citing the 1972 Irrigation Commission, he pointed out that Sangrur and Patiala, both major districts of Punjab, lie in the Yamuna basin and yet their rightful water share was never secured.
“They need to settle the old issues before talking about the Satluj waters,” Cheema said.
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