Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann put forth a long list of demands at Niti Aayog’s governing council meeting on Saturday — one that primarily sought an increased share for the state in its river waters, more funds from the Centre, and greater representation of the state’s officers in Chandigarh administration and Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).Mann made a special case for the state’s river waters, accusing BBMB of bias. He said BBMB ignored Punjab’s interests by deciding to release additional water to Haryana despite his govt’s objections, deeming it against the law as it was done without Punjab’s consent.Mann asserted Punjab had no surplus water, proposing a Yamuna-Satlej-Link (YSL) canal, instead of the present SYL, arguing that Ravi, Beas, and Satlej rivers were already in deficit. He said water should be diverted from surplus to deficit basins and reiterated Punjab’s long-standing request for inclusion in Yamuna water negotiations, citing a 1954 pact that entitled erstwhile Punjab to two-thirds of Yamuna waters.“If Haryana claims Ravi and Beas waters, Punjab should have an equal claim on Yamuna waters,” Mann said, noting that due to a lack of storage structures, Yamuna water was being wasted.Objecting to the deployment of CISF personnel at Nangal dam, Mann said the security of these dams had always been the sole responsibility of the state concerned. He said the Centre’s decision to deploy CISF was “unnecessary and avoidable”, as it disturbed an operational setup and diminished Punjab’s rights over the dam.Mann also sought an economic corridor along the Delhi-Katra Expressway, the release of the Rs 938.26 crore scholarship backlog for SC students, and Central funding for a Rs 600-crore Harike headworks desilting project. He opposed the Centre’s “unilateral” borrowing limit deductions.Seeking a Rs 2,829-crore grant for combatting drug smuggling from Pakistan and enhancing border security, the CM said the funds would upgrade infrastructure, jail security, and de-addiction efforts. He also urged the Centre to install 50 additional jamming systems to counter drones along the state’s 553 km border.Mann also sought a special industrial package for border districts and a 60:40 representation for Punjab officers in Chandigarh administration.
