BBMB Gave Punjab More Wounds than Water; we are not opposing, we are simply protecting Punjab’s rightful share: Goyal
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 3,2025
Explaining the boycott of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) meeting, Aam Aadmi Party senior leader and Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal stated, “We are not opposing Haryana or any other state from receiving water. We are simply protecting Punjab’s rightful share. Water belonging to Punjab cannot be wrongfully given to any other state.”
Addressing the media, Barinder Goyal said that BBMB has given Punjab more wounds than water. “To build the dams, 370 villages in Punjab were displaced, and we lost 27,000 acres of land. Millions of people living there were rendered homeless during the process, and some of them have not received compensation to this day.”
“Despite such sacrifices, Punjab receives only 35% of the water from the dams, while 65% goes to other states. We didn’t object to this because water is a matter of life. Our issue now is that BBMB is being pressured to forcibly give Punjab’s rightful share of water to Haryana. Haryana had already used up its entire share of water by March.”
“Haryana was allocated 2.987 MAF of water but has already consumed 3.091 MAF, exceeding its share by 3%. Meanwhile, Punjab was allocated 5.512 MAF but utilized only 4.925 MAF. Our government, through meticulous planning by ministers and officials, managed to save 11% of our share.”
BBMB Gave Punjab More Wounds than Water; we are not opposing, we are simply protecting Punjab’s rightful share: Goyal accused the central government of discrimination and said, “The Center has not questioned Haryana about its water misuse and mismanagement. Instead, it is pressuring BBMB to forcibly allocate Punjab’s saved water to Haryana. This is injustice to Punjab, and we will not tolerate it at any cost. The Center must reconsider its decision, as it is entirely one-sided and discriminatory.”
Goyal Demands Clarification from Bajwa and Warring on Himachal CM Sukhu’s Statement – Silence on this Matter Will Be Treason Against Punjab
Barinder Goyal strongly condemned the statement made by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on this matter. He questioned Punjab Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Raja Warring, asking them to clarify their stance on Sukhu’s statement. “Do they agree with his statement or not? If they disagree, they should publicly condemn Sukhu’s remarks. Silence on this issue is unacceptable. Remaining silent would be tantamount to treason against Punjab,” he stated.
