Chandigarh (National Times): In response to mounting discord between Punjab and Haryana over the BBMB’s directive to release 8,500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana, the Union Government has convened an emergency meeting of top officials from four northern states. The meeting is scheduled for May 2 in Delhi and will include Chief Secretaries from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will head the high-level meeting. Since Punjab’s Chief Secretary is currently on leave, the state will be represented by Additional Chief Secretary Alok Shekhar and Krishan Kumar, Principal Secretary for Water Resources.
The water-sharing dispute intensified yesterday when Punjab refused to release the allocated water, triggering a fresh political war of words between leaders from both states. The Centre’s intervention indicates the urgency and seriousness of the matter.
Similarly, an All-party meeting was called by the Punjab government to discuss the BBMB issue. Senior Akali Dal leaders Dr. Daljit Cheema and Balwinder Bhundar, Congress leaders Tript Rajinder Bajwa and former Speaker Rana KP, BJP’s Sunil Jakhar & Manoranjan Kalia, and AAP Punjab president Aman Arora along with BSP leaders Avtar Singh Karimpuri and MLA Nachhatarpal Singh attended the meeting, led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
