Wed Feb 19 20:17:00 UTC 2025: ## Punjab Declares No Water to Share Amidst River Dispute
**Chandigarh, February 20, 2025** – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared today that his state has no water to spare, rejecting any possibility of sharing resources with neighboring states. This statement was made before the Ravi Beas Water Tribunal, which is currently adjudicating water disputes between Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Mann argued that Punjab’s water resources are critically depleted, with 76.5% of its blocks classified as over-exploited, a significantly higher percentage than Haryana’s 61.5%. He emphasized that the state’s dwindling river resources necessitate prioritizing its own agricultural needs. The chief minister highlighted the irony that while Punjab, historically, had access to the Yamuna river, it is excluded from negotiations for its allocation, despite Haryana, a successor state, receiving waters from the Ravi and Beas rivers. He pressed for a fairer distribution of Yamuna waters.
Mann also credited his government with improving canal water usage from 21% to 84% and reported a one-meter increase in groundwater levels. However, he insisted that even with these improvements, the state’s current water situation prohibits any sharing. The Chief Minister urged the tribunal to ensure Punjab’s water rights are protected for future generations.
First Piper 