FACT CHECK-Punjab start releasing extra water to Delhi

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FACT CHECK-Punjab start releasing extra water to Delhi

Kanwar inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in

After the Bhagwant Mann led aam admi party (AAP) has taken the reins of Punjab, a message on social media is going viral that “in last two days that Punjab has released extra water to Delhi.

As per the one of the message “Punjab is releasing extra water to Delhi. In two days 482 cusec extra water is given where as from the last 11 years, Punjab never released more than 236 cusec water to Delhi.”

When crosschecked it with the irrigation department (water resources) officials they said it’s not possible and it is not even in Punjab government’s hand to release extra water to Delhi or any other state.

One cusec of water is one cubic foot of water flow per second. It translates into 28.32 litres of water per second.

FACT CHECK-Punjab start releasing extra water to Delhi

“So as per the message going viral on social media, it means that now Punjab has start giving 482 cusecs of water to Delhi, which was getting 236 cusecs of water till the formation of AAP govt in Punjab. With this figure, Delhi starts getting 246 cusec of extra water after the formation of AAP government in Punjab. If we multiply 246 cusecs of water with 28.32 litres, it comes around 7000 litres , which Punjab is giving extra water to Delhi. So everyone can understand that it’s a fake message which is going viral on social media to malign the image of Punjab government and to unrest the Punjab. ” said the irrigation official on the condition of anonymity.

When contacted the superintending engineer GPS Virk of Bhakhra main line (BML) -Narwana Branch, through which the water flows to Delhi, he said” it’s all rumor and fake news . The water is released from Bhakhra dam after the technical committee members (TCM)  of all share holding states finalized the quantity to be released on regular basis. So, there is no chance of releasing extra amount of water to any state, without the consent of others. ”

Another senior official of irrigation department added that ” around 9,000 to 10,000 cusecs of water from Punjab is discharged towards Haryana through Narwana Branch, including the share of Delhi. A total of 496 cusecs of water is being discharged to Delhi and water flows through Haryana. Of this 496 cusecs share of Delhi, 125 cusecs of water is discharged to Delhi for the entire year according to apex court ruling and remaining 371 cusecs is discharged to Delhi for nine months. During July, August, September 371 cusecs is not supplied to Delhi.Moreover, water to Delhi is supplied by Haryana, not directly by Punjab”

Another official on the condition of anonymity said “the water to Delhi flows via Haryana. If any extra water is released to Delhi, Haryana will object as he is demanding extra water. Also, AAP govt in Punjab will give a point to BJP ruled state Haryana to make a political issue and Haryana would encash this issue to letdown AAP government. ”

So this viral message on social media is found to be FAKE .

March 27,2022