CM Bhagwant Mann Reiterates ‘Not a Drop to Spare’ in Letter to Haryana CM

A day after releasing a detailed video statement asserting that Punjab cannot spare even a drop of extra water for Haryana, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann escalated the confrontation on Wednesday by writing a blunt and strongly worded letter to his Haryana counterpart, Nayab Singh Saini.

Reiterating his firm stand, Mann accused the BJP-led Governments in Haryana and at the Centre of engineering a systematic conspiracy to rob Punjab of its water. “BJP through its Government in Haryana and Centre is trying to suppress the state and it is unfortunate that BBMB is passing new resolutions every day to rob share of Punjab’s water,” he said.

The Chief Minister asserted that Punjab’s water resources are already stretched thin and that any additional outflow to another state would be a direct injustice to his people — something he vowed not to allow under any circumstances.

“I have received the letter of Naib Singh Saini through media only and it is unfortunate that a person of his stature is misleading the people by saying that he has assured water to Haryana…This is nothing more than a bundle of lies as this promise was never made…and this doesn’t suit a person sitting on a constitutional post,” Mann said, adding that Haryana Chief Minister did call him, “but I never gave any assurance regarding water to Saini”.

Laced with sharp political undertones, the letter comes amid heightened tensions between the two states over water distribution through the Bhakra-Beas system. “Haryana has already overdrawn its share — 103 percent to be exact — yet continues to demand more,” Mann wrote, adding that Punjab has been supplying 4,000 cusecs of water daily since April 6 as a humanitarian gesture. “Despite this, Haryana now wants 8,500 cusecs per day, which is not only unjustified but technically infeasible,” he said.

Mann pointed out that Haryana, with a population of about three crore, requires only 1,700 cusecs for drinking purposes. The inflated demand, he alleged, is clearly meant to cater to irrigation needs after the state mismanaged its allocated share. Punjab, on the other hand, is preparing for the Kharif sowing season and facing a dire situation with falling water levels in all its key reservoirs — Pong Dam is 32 feet lower than the previous year, Bhakra Dam is down 12 feet, and Ranjit Sagar Dam is 14 feet below normal.

Every year, BBMB distributes water to partner states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan which is applicable from May 21 to May 20 next year. Mann argued that according to BBMB’s annual allocation, Punjab is supposed to get 5.512 MAF (million acre-feet), while Haryana’s share is 2.987 MAF, and that of Rajasthan is 3.318 MAF. Mann pointed that Haryana had exhausted its quota by March 31, while Punjab has received only 89 percent of its share so far — the lowest among all partner states.

“Haryana government has sought 2.5 times more water from Punjab than its actual need. Despite this, Punjab has been giving this water from April…A few days back, Haryana had pleaded that this water is not sufficient for it and it needs 8500 cusec additional water daily. It is evident that this water is needed for irrigation purposes and this problem has arisen as Haryana has not utilized its share of water properly,” said Mann.

Highlighting the logistical limits of the Bhakra Main Line (BML) canal — which can carry a maximum of 10,000 cusecs, Mann said that Haryana’s demand for 8,500 cusecs leaves no scope for Punjab’s needs and exposes the irrationality of the request. “This is nothing but an attempt to pressurize Punjab through central agencies and BJP’s control over BBMB,” he wrote.

The controversy deepened after BBMB recently wrote to the Union Power Ministry seeking appropriate action over the issue, prompting further political reactions. Union Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar accused the Punjab Government of failing to uphold its constitutional duty and warned of central intervention if BBMB is pressurized. Mann, in turn, slammed the BJP for using power at the Centre and in Haryana to marginalize Punjab’s interests.

“Punjab’s water belongs to Punjab, and I will not allow a single drop to be taken away unfairly,” Mann concluded, warning that any move to override the state's legitimate share will be met with stiff resistance.

BJP vs AAP in Punjab: Bittu Accuses Mann of Divisive Politics, AAP Hits Back

The ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Haryana has sparked a fierce political slugfest, with Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu accusing Punjab Chief Minister of stoking regional tensions, while AAP leaders hit back, calling Bittu's concerns “politically motivated”. Bittu, the Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, slammed Mann for making “irresponsible remarks” during a time of national mourning after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. “When the entire country is united against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Mann chooses to divide states over water,” Bittu posted on X, adding, “This is no time for political posturing”. He criticized Mann’s controversial statement suggesting that water meant for Pakistan should be stored in Punjab’s dams instead, calling it “dangerous rhetoric” at a sensitive time. “Not a single drop of Punjab’s water will be given away, but we need unity, not division,” said Bittu, adding that holding BBMB meetings over water sharing is routine and not new.

 AAP leaders responded sharply. AAP MP from Anandpur Sahib Malwinder Singh Kang accused Bittu of being more interested in preserving his ministerial post than defending Punjab’s rights. “Why are you so concerned about giving more water to Haryana?” Kang asked. “Punjab has already given Haryana its due share. We are ourselves facing a severe shortage,” he added. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains also echoed Kang, saying Haryana has already used 103 percent of its allocated water. “Our CM has taken a firm stand. Most blocks in Punjab are in the dark zone. We won’t allow Haryana to take more than its share,” Bains said.

Farmers Urge Dialogue, Call for Sharda-Yamuna Link Work to Begin

As the Punjab and Haryana governments lock horns over water sharing, with the issue escalating to the Centre, farmers in Punjab have urged both states to stop politicizing the crisis and resolve it through dialogue. They stressed that the matter should be addressed through legal frameworks like the Riparian Law and practical solutions instead of emotional posturing.

“Water is too vital to be reduced to a political weapon,” said Kisan Mazdoor Morcha’s convener and prominent farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher. Criticizing the ongoing political blame game, Pandher said: “The people of Punjab and Haryana are not enemies. Governments are staging drama just for public display while avoiding real solutions.”

Pandher insisted that the water-sharing issue must be settled in a spirit of cooperation. He also underlined the ground reality of Punjab’s own water crisis, where canal water often fail to reach many farms. “If there’s genuinely no water available, then that should be accepted — but stop inflaming tempers between neighboring states,” he added.

Echoing similar sentiment, another senior farm leader Rominder Patiala said that the Centre must take concrete steps, beginning with the long-pending Sharda-Yamuna Link. “If the government truly wants to solve this problem, reviving the Sharda-Yamuna Link project is the only sustainable way forward,” he said, highlighting the approaching paddy season in Punjab.

PUNJAB-HARYANA WATER DISPUTE: KEY FACTS