FM Harpal Cheema Strongly Opposes CISF Deployment at BBMB, Highlights Historical Betrayals on Water Rights
Chandigarh, July 11,
Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema delivered a fervent speech in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, vehemently opposing the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) proposal to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at its facilities. He accused successive governments of undermining Punjab’s water rights, severely impacting the state’s agricultural sector, and took a sharp dig at the Leader of the Opposition for his “reputation for U-turns.”
Historical Context and Water Rights Betrayals
Cheema began by referencing a 1954 agreement between Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which allocated two-thirds of Yamuna waters to Punjab and one-third to Uttar Pradesh, a pact documented in state and central records. He criticized the 1966 Punjab Reorganization Act, enacted during the formation of Punjabi Suba, for ignoring this agreement. Leaders from Congress, Akali Dal, and Jan Sangh at the time were singled out for relinquishing Punjab’s legitimate claim to Yamuna waters. Cheema also highlighted the contentious Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal disputes, which led to political instability, loss of lives, and exploitation of these tragedies for political gain.
He further condemned the 1966 Reorganization Act for arbitrarily dividing Sutlej waters in a 60:40 ratio between Punjab and Haryana, with no provisions for the Ravi and Beas rivers. The 1972 Irrigation Commission recognized Punjab’s claim to Yamuna waters for Sangrur and Patiala (now covering five districts), but Cheema noted that no Punjab political party pursued this right, allowing Haryana to claim two-thirds of the water.
Cheema labeled the 1981 agreement under Congress rule as a “colossal betrayal,” where Punjab received only 4 MAF of the Ravi’s 17 MAF, while Haryana got 3.5 MAF and Rajasthan 8.6 MAF, despite neither state having any part of the Ravi water basin. He questioned why then-Chief Minister Darbara Singh agreed to this allocation, directly challenging senior politicians in the Vidhan Sabha.
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Current Demands and BBMB Audit
Cheema emphasized that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has formally proposed the construction of a Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) canal to secure 60% of Yamuna waters for Punjab. He revealed that ₹104 crore of BBMB funds have been withheld over the past nine months due to the absence of an audit in BBMB’s 70-year history, a process he has now initiated. Cheema criticized previous governments for funding BBMB without protecting Punjab’s interests.
Opposition to CISF Deployment
Addressing the BBMB’s proposal to deploy CISF, Cheema disclosed that the Congress government under Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in 2021 agreed to transfer BBMB security to the CISF. He argued that the Punjab Police has effectively managed BBMB security for 70 years, questioning the need for CISF deployment, which would incur an annual cost of approximately ₹50 crore. Cheema accused the Congress and the BJP-led central government of conspiring to undermine Punjab’s water rights and the interests of its farmers.
Response to Opposition
Responding to Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa’s claim that the current government supported the Centre’s decision to bring the 50-kilometer area along the Pakistan border under BSF jurisdiction, Cheema clarified that this approval was granted during the Congress government’s tenure. He challenged Bajwa to a debate, taking a pointed jab at his “reputation for U-turns.”
Significance
Finance Minister Cheema’s speech underscored Punjab’s resolve to protect its water rights and resist external control over critical resources like the BBMB. By highlighting historical betrayals and advocating for the YSL canal, the Punjab Government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the state’s agricultural backbone and ensuring equitable resource allocation.
