Dr Gandhi, 18 others demand ₹80,000 crore for Punjab
CHANDIGARH: Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi and former high court judge justice (retd) AS Bains are among the 18 prominent citizens from Punjab who have approached the high court, seeking Rs 80,000 crore for Punjab claiming that its share of water was given to other non-riparian states. Hence, it should be compensated.
The petition was filed on Wednesday seeking declaration of Section 14 of the Interstate River Water Dispute Act, 1956, which makes river water a state subject,except disputes of interstate river and valleys.
It has also been demanded that Sections 78, 79 and 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 be declared as unconditional, which permits the diversion or allotment of river waters of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej to non-riparian states Haryana and Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Delhi without payment of any compensation.
The court was told that Punjab has a complete authority of taking any decision regarding its river waters and management of head works and other projects only in consultation with the other two riparian states Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and with no others.
Gandhi has been suspended by Aam Aadmi Party and has floated a front, Punjab Manch. Other petitioners are Bawa Singh, who is an ex vice-chairman of National Commission for Minorities, PU professor Ronki Ram, among others.
“In no judicial precedent, river water of the parent state has been given to other non-riparian or successor state without payment of any cost,” the petition states.
More than 50% of the river waters of Punjab are being given to Rajasthan without any payment or cost, the petition states.