State Bureau, Chandigarh | Former Haryana Finance Minister and the Indian National Lok Dal leader, Prof. Sampat Singh, said the INLD has always fought to protect Haryana's water rights and will not accept any compromise on the state's statutory share of Yamuna water.
He said the INLD will strongly oppose the water agreement between Haryana and Rajasthan signed in Delhi. Singh recalled that in 1994, under the leadership of the late Om Prakash Chautala, all 17 INLD MLAs resigned from the assembly in protest against the Yamuna Water Agreement.
Speaking to the media in Chandigarh, Singh said that the construction of the SYL canal remains incomplete despite repeated Supreme Court directives, leading to Haryana's ongoing water crisis. Both the BJP and Congress parties have united on the issue of Haryana's water.
"Just as the Congress made a deal to save its seat, the BJP government has signed a similar agreement to give water to Rajasthan. Haryana's water belongs to Haryana. INLD will continue to fight to protect every drop of it," he added.
Yamuna Water Agreement Was Originally Signed In 1954
The professor said the Yamuna Water Agreement, signed on March 12, 1954, between the then-Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, recognised Punjab's rights through the Eastern and Western Yamuna Canal systems. After Haryana's formation in 1966, it acquired this right. For several decades, approximately 12 BCM of Yamuna water was used, with Haryana using approximately 8 BCM and Uttar Pradesh using approximately 4 BCM.
However, on May 12, 1994, under a new agreement signed by the Chief Ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi at the initiative of the Central Government, Haryana's share was reduced to 5,730 BCM, while Uttar Pradesh was allocated 4,032 BCM, Rajasthan 1,119 BCM, Delhi 0.724 BCM, and Himachal Pradesh 0.378 BCM.
What Triggered The Fresh Row Over Yamuna Water Distribution?
On Monday, Haryana and Rajasthan signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to implement the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB) agreement, which will allow Rajasthan to get water from Hathini Kund barrage during monsoons. The UYRB agreement was signed 32 years ago in 1994, but could not be implemented till now due to the absence of a canal system to supply water to Rajasthan. After the agreement, Rajasthan will get its due water through an underground water pipeline from Hathini Kund barrage during monsoon months.
The INLD leader said that this reduced Haryana's share from approximately 67 per cent to 46 per cent. Previously, Rajasthan and Delhi were only allocated surplus water on humanitarian grounds, which was transformed into a permanent allocation by the 1994 agreement, he added.
The same agreement provided for the construction of the Renuka, Kishau, and Lakhwar-Vyas dams to increase the availability of Yamuna water, but these projects have not been completed to date, Singh said. He alleged that instead of resolving old disputes, the BJP government is making new agreements with Rajasthan which weaken the interests of Haryana.
(With Jagran/PTI inputs)