Rajasthan MPs demand state's share of water under Bakhra-Beas Pact

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Rajasthan MPs today strongly objected to the decision of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to stop supply of water to the state from the Pong Dam and sought the Centre's intervention to resolve the issue immediately.

The MPs, who raised the issue in Parliament even forced the Chair to adjourn the Lok Sabha for about one hour before they sat on a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament House Complex, demanding justice for the farmers of Rajasthan.

Later, they also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his immediate intervention in the matter. The Prime Minister is understood to have assured them that he would personally look into the issue at the earliest.

The MPs, a majority of them from BJP, said the BBMB's decision would result into the loss of the Rabi crops worth thousands of crores of rupees for want of water. Besides, it might cause a law and order problem in the state.

The Parliamentarians also passed a resolution demanding immediate release of water for Rajasthan from the Pong Dam as per the State's share of water under the the Ravi-Beas agreement.

According to the Inter-state agreement made among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in 1981, Rajasthan was entitled to 8.60 MAF of water.

The State Government officials, however, alleged that out of the agreed allocation, Punjab was taking away 0.60 MAF of water. The State Government has been representing the issue with the Central Government, BBMB and the Punjab Government from time to time, but in vain.

BBMB is an independent body established by the Union Government looking after water distribution from the Ravi-Beas rivers. In case of water crisis, the water requirement is being met bringing down the water level of the Pong dam on Ravi-Beas rivers.

The Rajasthan MPs said an half-yearly programme was also chalked out in September last year regarding release of water under which water distribution was to be made by bringding down the water level to 1301 feet of the Pong dam.

Punjab and Haryana, however, did not adhere to it. As a result, farmers of Rajasthan are facing acute water shortage.

UNI KAS RL KN1922