A renewed water-sharing dispute has flared up between Punjab and Haryana, with the latter demanding additional water from the Bhakra reservoir. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini claimed that without the release, unused water would flow into Pakistan, which he said would be a "loss for both states and the nation."
Punjab, however, has refused, citing critical water needs for its own agricultural season and accusing Haryana of exceeding its allocation.
Haryana Sounds Alarm on Drinking Water Shortage
CM Saini appealed to his Punjab counterpart to release more water from the Bhakra dam, noting that Haryana had only received 4,000 cusecs—about 60% of its drinking water requirement. He warned that failure to release additional supplies could jeopardise water availability in Delhi and allow surplus water to flow across the border via Hari-ke-Pattan.
“Bhakra Dam must be emptied before June to store monsoon rainwater,” Saini said, adding that the situation was particularly urgent after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Saini also accused Punjab of political gamesmanship, saying Mann’s refusal was intended to punish Delhi after AAP's electoral defeat. “The Punjab CM kept me waiting until April 27. He misled the people of Haryana for political selfishness,” Saini alleged.
Punjab Cites Paddy Season, Denies Surplus Supply
In response, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said Haryana had already used 103% of its allocated share and accused the BJP of using the Bhakra Beas Management Board to apply pressure. “We don’t have a single drop to spare,” Mann said in a video, citing critically low water levels at the Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams.
Mann maintained that Punjab’s own water needs were pressing ahead of the paddy sowing season and rejected claims that he was reneging on earlier assurances.
The row revives long-standing tensions over water sharing and comes as the SYL Canal issue remains unresolved, despite Supreme Court directives.
