Former CM Hooda backs Haryana in water row, calls Punjab's move "unconstitutional"

Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], May 4 (ANI): Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda slammed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during the ongoing dispute over sharing Bhakra dam water between the two states.
Hooda spoke about the all-party meeting, which was called on May 3, and said the issue concerns Haryana's interest. He said that Punjab's decision to stop Haryana's water supply is "unconstitutional" and asserted that Punjab has already taken nine percent more water than its share.
Supporting the state government, the former CM added that the state has not withdrawn its water.
"This is the decision that has been taken; it is a question of Haryana's interest, a question of water, and we stand with the government for whatever it does. Whether it is meeting the leaders of the centre or talking to the leaders here, whether it is political, whatever has to be done for our interest, we will fight the entire battle. This is a wrong approach, the decision taken yesterday to stop the water is unconstitutional", Hooda told ANI on Saturday.

"There is a federal structure, traditionally, this is not additional water, the level is seen in September, and the water is kept accordingly, so Punjab has already taken 9 percent more than its share. Haryana has not even withdrawn its water. Water will not go to Haryana alone; it will go to Rajasthan and Delhi as well. This is an unconstitutional, inhuman and undemocratic decision", he added.
Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini-led the BJP government called an all-party meeting in Chandigarh over the water sharing dispute with Punjab and appealed to the people of both states to maintain peace. CM Saini said that in the all-party meeting, a resolution was passed that the Punjab government should implement the decision taken by the Bhakra Beas Management Board to release Haryana's share of water.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Haryana CM said that the state is facing issues related to drinking water."I want to tell Mann sahib (Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann) that this water doesn't belong to Punjab only but to the whole country...On 23rd April, the Bhakra Beas Management Board decided to give 8,500 cusec water to Haryana, but the Mann government did not honour this decision. On 30th April, in the BBMP meeting, a resolution was passed to implement the 23rd April decision. 12.55 MAF water is allotted to Haryana against 10.67 MAF given to the state...Punjab is using more than its share of water. Haryana is getting 17 per cent less water than originally allocated to it...At least don't do politics on water meant for drinking purposes...Today, in Haryana, we are facing issues related to drinking water," Haryana CM said.
Haryana CM Saini said that the Punjab government should release Punjab's share of water.
"In the all-party meeting today, it was decided that the Mann government (Punjab government) should release our share of water. We have also passed a resolution that the Punjab government should implement the decision taken by BBMP on 23rd April to release Haryana's share of water. We also appeal to the people of both states to maintain peace," Haryana CM said.
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) recently ordered that an additional 8,500 cusecs of water be released to Haryana. However, the Punjab government rejected the BBMB's decisions. Raising concerns over decreasing water levels in key reservoirs, on May 1, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann mentioned that the water levels in Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam are 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet below last year's levels. (ANI)