Water crisis deepens in Haryana as Punjab restricts Bhakra canal supply

Chandigarh: The water crisis in Haryana has worsened following a significant reduction in water flow from Punjab via the Bhakra Canal. In response, Haryana Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa convened an emergency meeting with senior officials in Chandigarh.

After the meeting, instructions were issued for all SEs, XENs, SDOs, and JEs posted in various districts to remain at their respective headquarters. Officials were directed to arrange alternative water supplies for areas facing shortages.

Officials informed the minister that the crisis was particularly severe in Hisar, Sirsa, Mahendragarh, Narnaul, and Fatehabad, where drinking water is now being rationed. In some places, the frequency of water supply has been further reduced.

Minister Gangwa said that 11,567 tube wells across the state were being used to maintain drinking water supply. Additionally, canal water is being lifted by tankers and distributed to storage tanks in affected regions.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated in Punjab after the state government deployed a police cordon around the Bhakra Dam in Nangal. Punjab Police reportedly took control of the dam’s control room key and barred public access to the area.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a high-level meeting on Thursday evening in Chandigarh, attended by party chief Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Following the meeting, AAP leader Aman Arora announced that an all-party meeting would be held at 10 am on Friday, while a special session of the Punjab Assembly has been scheduled for Monday.

The conflict intensified after the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) held an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening, where it was decided to increase Haryana’s water share from 4,000 to 8,500 cusecs. However, the Punjab government rejected the directive. Subsequently, Engineer Akashdeep, who represented Punjab as Director of Water Regulation, was replaced by Haryana’s Sanjeev Kumar. In a retaliatory move, BBMB Secretary Surinder Mittal from the Haryana quota was removed and replaced by Balbir Singh from the Punjab quota.

As the situation spiraled, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the Nangal Dam to personally review the conditions alongside police personnel stationed there.