Clear ₹1 Lakh Crore Water Dues Owed to Punjab: MP Sahney demanded in Parliament

Press Release
09/02/2025

Clear ₹1 Lakh Crore Water Dues Owed to Punjab: MP Sahney demanded in Parliament

Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, today raised the critical issue of Punjab’s rapidly worsening water crisis in the Parliament.
Highlighting the severe imbalance in river water sharing, Dr. Sahney stated that nearly 70 per cent of Punjab’s river water — about 19 MAF out of a total 25 MAF — is being supplied to other States, while Punjab itself is facing an alarming decline in groundwater levels due to over-extraction and excessive burden on canal and tube-well irrigation.

Dr. Sahney also strongly demanded that Rajasthan clear over ₹1 lakh crore in long-pending dues owed to Punjab for river water usage. Emphasising Punjab’s legal and historical rights, Dr. Sahney said that as the riparian State of the Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers, Punjab is entitled to seigniorage under the 1927 Gang Canal Agreement. The payment discontinued of the same since 1956, and it is grossly unjust and unfair.

Dr. Sahney also informed that the 1981 water-sharing agreement with Rajasthan was never ratified by the Punjab assembly and must be revisited. If these inequities are not corrected urgently, Punjab risks moving steadily towards desertification.