Punjab's Financial Struggle: Pending Payments and Security Disputes

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has announced a formal request for a pending payment of Rs 113.24 crore from the Haryana government for the operation and maintenance of the Bhakra canal. This move is part of a larger initiative by the Aam Aadmi Party government to recover long-standing dues from other states involved in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Speaking at a media briefing, Cheema criticized previous state administrations for neglecting Punjab's financial interests within the BBMB, allowing other states to exceed their allocated water shares and delaying payments. Further complicating matters, the Punjab government is contesting the decision to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Bhakra-Nangal project, stating the resolution had unanimously passed against this deployment.

Highlighting a financial discovery, Punjab officials revealed that a reconciliation process confirmed the dues: Rs 103.92 crore related to the XEN Bhakra mainline canal division and Rs 9.32 crore for the Mansa canal division. The issue of CISF deployment is seen as an unnecessary financial burden, with Punjab bearing major expenditure for BBMB. The state government insists on seeking legal recourse to resolve these disputes.

(With inputs from agencies.)