Former Punjab Special Chief Secretary urges Centre to reassess river flows, state-wise allocations before pursuing SYL canal construction
Chandigarh, September 5, 2026
Former Punjab Special Chief Secretary KBS Sidhu has urged the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to reassess the allocation of Ravi–Beas waters, arguing that Haryana is already receiving the full share it is entitled to under the 1987 Eradi Tribunal award based on present river flows.
In a detailed letter emailed to Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil, with copies to the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Central Water Commission, Sidhu said the river flows have declined substantially since the data period considered by the Tribunal, while the shares allocated to Rajasthan, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir were protected from any reduction.
According to Sidhu, the Eradi Tribunal’s 1987 award allocated 3.83 million acre-feet (MAF) to Haryana, while also stipulating that the shares of Punjab and Haryana would rise or fall in proportion to changes in river flows.
He argued that Ravi–Beas flows have since declined by more than 20 per cent. As a result, the burden of the reduced availability has effectively fallen on Punjab and Haryana because the allocations of the other beneficiaries cannot be reduced.
“Haryana is already receiving every drop the 1987 award gives it today. There is nothing left over for a canal to carry.”
— KBS Sidhu
Haryana’s Present Drawal
Sidhu’s calculations put Haryana’s present entitlement at around 1.54 to 1.70 MAF, based on the reduced river availability. He said Haryana is already drawing approximately 1.62 MAF through the existing canal network.
He therefore contended that, under the Tribunal’s own formula, there is no additional water available for a new canal to carry to Haryana.
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Sidhu has proposed three key steps for the Union government:
- Reassess Ravi–Beas river flows using data available up to 2025 instead of relying on records ending around 1959–60.
- Conduct a fresh assessment of actual water utilisation by the concerned states, noting that the last such exercise was carried out about 41 years ago.
- Recalculate all allocations proportionately, with the same reduction applied to every beneficiary rather than exempting particular states.
He maintained that an across-the-board reduction would not be a Punjab-specific demand and could still leave both Punjab and Haryana in a better position than a calculation based strictly on the Tribunal’s existing wording.
Rajasthan’s Share and Unresolved Payment
Sidhu also raised the issue of Rajasthan’s Ravi–Beas allocation, referring to a January 29, 1955 note that had provided for the cost of the water supplied to Rajasthan to be settled subsequently.
He alleged that while the Centre’s 1976 notification carried forward the provision allocating the water, the provision relating to payment was not implemented.
According to Sidhu, if the Union government wants to provide additional assistance to Haryana’s farmers, the annual financial requirement could be in the range of ₹450 crore to ₹1,100 crore.
He suggested that any such assistance should be funded by the Centre rather than Punjab, gradually reduced over time and discontinued on a fixed date, while bringing all related claims between the states to a permanent conclusion.
SYL Canal Capacity
Sidhu also questioned the viability of the Sutlej–Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in light of present water availability.
He said the canal was designed to carry approximately 2.21 MAF, whereas the current live claim could range from zero to around 0.9 MAF.
“The Sutlej–Yamuna Link is a canal dug for at least twice the water there is to put in it.”
— KBS Sidhu
He argued that the issue should therefore be addressed through updated hydrological data and a fresh assessment of allocations rather than through assumptions based on decades-old river-flow records.
Second Representation to Centre
This is Sidhu’s second major representation to the Union government concerning Punjab’s river waters.
His earlier representation had sought termination of the Indus Waters Treaty through an Act of Parliament, along with projects to capture waters of the western rivers and link them with the Ravi–Beas system. He has also prepared a draft Bill on the issue.
Sidhu retired in July 2021 as Special Chief Secretary to the Punjab government after serving in senior positions including Principal Secretary, Irrigation, and Financial Commissioner, Revenue.
He clarified that he has made the latest representation as a private citizen and is not affiliated with any political party.
Key Point
Sidhu’s central argument is that the availability of Ravi–Beas water has changed significantly since the data used for the 1987 award, and any decision on additional water allocation or the SYL canal should first be based on updated river-flow and utilisation data.
