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Punjab Demands Rs 1.44 Lakh Crore from Rajasthan for Unpaid Water Dues

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced the state will stake a claim for Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for water drawn since 1960 without payment. He cited a 1920 agreement with the erstwhile state of Bikaner, which mandated payment for water on a per-acre basis. Mann stated that while Rajasthan stopped payments after the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, it continues to draw 18,000 cusecs of water under the old agreement. The Punjab government has raised the issue with the Centre and Rajasthan, seeking a review of the 1920 pact to recover the dues.

Key Points: Punjab Claims Rs 1.44 Lakh Crore Water Dues from Rajasthan

  • Rs 1.44 lakh crore claim for water since 1960
  • Rajasthan draws 18,000 cusecs under 1920 pact
  • Payments stopped after Indus Water Treaty
  • Punjab seeks review of century-old agreement
2 min read

Punjab to claim Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for water usage, says CM Mann

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann demands Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for unpaid water usage since 1960, citing a 1920 agreement and threatening to stop supply.

Punjab to claim Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for water usage, says CM Mann
"Rajasthan must either release Punjab's rightful dues or stop taking water. - Bhagwant Singh Mann"

Chandigarh, March 18

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday said the state would stake a claim to Rs 1.44 lakh crore from Rajasthan for decades of unpaid water usage, making it clear that Rajasthan must either release Punjab's rightful dues or stop drawing water, while also calling for a review of the historic 1920 agreement governing this arrangement.

Interacting with the media, CM Mann said, "The Rajasthan government owes Rs 1.44 lakh crore to Punjab for the water drawn through the Ferozepur feeder since 1960, for which not even a single penny has been paid. Rajasthan must either release Punjab's rightful dues or stop taking water."

He said as per an agreement signed in 1920 between the state of Bikaner, the erstwhile Punjab, and the British, Rajasthan had agreed to pay for water on a per-acre basis. "Payments were made till 1960, but after the Indus Water Treaty, Rajasthan stopped paying despite continuously drawing 18,000 cusecs of water," explained CM Mann.

Highlighting the contradiction in Rajasthan's stand, CM Mann said, "Even today Rajasthan continues to draw water under the 1920 agreement, but when it comes to paying dues, it takes shelter under the 1960 arrangement."

He further said, "The governments at that time, while entering into the new arrangement in 1960, did not mention payment, but they also never cancelled the 1920 agreement."

Raising questions over past inaction, CM Mann said, "The agreement clearly mandated a review every 25 years, but previous governments never raised this issue or pursued Punjab's rightful claim." Reiterating the historical context, he said, "Under a 1920 agreement signed during the British era with Bikaner, 18,000 cusecs of Punjab's water was supplied continuously till 1960.

However, after the Indus Waters Treaty, there was no mention of this arrangement. If we calculate dues from 1960 to 2026, Rajasthan owes Punjab Rs 1.44 lakh crore."

The Chief Minister further noted, "We have raised this issue with both the Union government and the Rajasthan government. The Punjab government has also written a letter to the Rajasthan government seeking a meeting to discuss this issue."

He said Punjab would pursue the matter firmly, stating, "Our government seeks a review of the 1920 agreement so that Punjab can recover its rightful dues. We will raise this issue strongly at all appropriate forums and ensure that Punjab gets what is rightfully its own."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While the principle of payment for resources is valid, I'm concerned about the practical implications. This could escalate into a major inter-state dispute. Water sharing is already a sensitive issue in India. Shouldn't the focus be on a cooperative, long-term solution for sustainable water management for all states involved?
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Vikram M
It's shocking that previous governments never reviewed the agreement as mandated every 25 years. Where was the accountability? This is our water, our farmers' lifeline. Rajasthan is a prosperous state; they can certainly afford to pay for what they've used. Better late than never to claim our dues.
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Rohit P
As someone from Rajasthan, I understand Punjab's point, but the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty changed everything. You can't just cherry-pick clauses. If the 1920 agreement wasn't formally cancelled, it was superseded by newer pacts. This feels more like political posturing before elections than a genuine claim. The central government needs to mediate.
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Priya S
The amount is staggering! But the legal tangle seems complex. Which agreement holds more weight? The 1920 one or the post-1960 arrangements? The courts or a central tribunal will have to decide. I just hope our farmers don't suffer if relations sour over this. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.
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Michael C
Interesting case. From an outsider's perspective, this highlights the challenges of federal water management in large countries. The CM has a point about the inconsistency—using water under one agreement but refusing payment by citing another. Clarity in inter-state agreements is crucial to avoid such disputes decades later.

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