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Punjab CM shares Haryana’s concern on river water flowing to Pak, says matter with Centre
He, however, ruled out the need for any interaction between the states on this matter, “since the matter is under consideration of a high-powered committee set up by the Centre.”
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday shared the concern of his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar on wasteful flow of river water into Pakistan, but ruled out the need for any interaction between the states on this matter, or for engaging the multi-state Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to undertake feasibility studies for a second Ravi-Beas link, “since the matter is under consideration of a high-powered committee set up by the Centre”.
“We would surely like to check all wasteful flows of river waters, and secure every drop of it for our farmers,” Amarinder said, replying to Khattar’s demi-official letter of May 7. “In Punjab, we are of the considered opinion to fully secure and utilize the water of Ravi as also of other two rivers, Sutlej and Beas, for our farmers, without letting it go waste in any manner,” he added.
Citing “authoritative sources”, he said that, of the 75% Yamuna waters received in the month of July, August and September, as much as 50% goes waste, urging Khattar to make efforts to stop that.
Acknowledging the need for preventing wasteful flow of river water, Amarinder said that Punjab “is indeed facing unprecedented water crisis”, with its water needs for agriculture having been assessed at 52 million acre feet, of which river water contribution is “hardly to the extent of 27%”.
Noting that the wastage of discharge pertained mainly to supply of water from Ujh river, the Punjab CM suggested that it might, therefore, “be appropriate to examine availability of discharge post-construction of Ujh dam”. He pointed out that in 2008 the superintending engineer (drainage circle), Amritsar, had referred to the proposal of J&K government for construction of storage dam on Ujh, stating that excess discharge available at Ujh storage dam could be diverted to Shahpur Kandi barrage.
