Punjab has no surplus water to share, says CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday asserted that the state has no surplus water to share with any other state and said there was no question of giving away even a single drop.

Mann made the remarks while inaugurating the two-day Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, where he was the chief guest. Recalling his association with the annual event, he said he had attended the mela even during his days as an artist.

The chief minister said his government remained committed to protecting the interests of farmers and making agriculture a modern and profitable profession. At the same time, he stressed that Punjab's water resources could not be compromised.

“Punjab has no extra water to share with any other state. There is no question of sharing even a single drop,” Mann said, alleging that previous governments had compromised the state's interests over river waters for their own vested interests.

The sharing of river waters between Punjab and Haryana has remained a contentious issue for decades, particularly over the proposed Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Punjab has consistently maintained that it does not have surplus water to share.

Mann said the state had significantly expanded the use of canal water for irrigation. According to him, canal irrigation coverage has increased from 22 per cent when the AAP government assumed office to more than 88 per cent currently. He also said around 14,000 km of underground pipelines had been laid, with another 7,000 km planned by the end of the year.

The chief minister linked these measures to efforts to improve groundwater levels and reduce dependence on groundwater for agriculture.

He said the government was also strengthening seed research at PAU and had allocated Rs 1,300 crore for horticulture. Mann highlighted the state's sugarcane price of Rs 416 per quintal, which he described as the highest in the country.

He urged the Centre to ensure remunerative minimum support prices (MSP) for alternative crops and provide financial assistance to farmers for stubble management to help address the problem of stubble burning.

Mann also assured farmers that every grain of their produce would be procured and lifted during the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season.

The chief minister stressed the need to expand international partnerships for stubble management and promote crop diversification, food processing and value addition. He said these measures should be incorporated into government schemes through proper planning.

Mann said Punjab contributes the largest share of paddy to the Central Pool despite having limited natural resources. He argued that the state's farmers had played a major role in ensuring India's food security but had done so at the cost of increasing pressure on water, soil and other resources.

He said MSP and marketing arrangements for pulses and other alternative crops remained major concerns and called for greater focus on diversification.

Mann also urged farmers to use only sprays and pesticides recommended by PAU experts and to verify seeds before sowing to improve yields and avoid unnecessary losses.

Addressing the broader agrarian crisis, he said rising input costs and declining returns had pushed farmers into financial difficulties. He said the state government was working to increase farm incomes and help farmers move out of the cycle of debt.

with inputs from PTI