Now It Is the Moment of Bhagwant Mann. Can He?
Punjab’s water crisis has returned to the national spotlight. Once again, we find ourselves wrestling with the unfinished legacy of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and the larger issue of riparian injustice. The latest flashpoint—Punjab’s refusal to release additional water to Haryana through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)—has invited sharp rebukes from the Centre, which has accused the state of “bullying” institutions.
But is it bullying—or belated but bold assertion? I think the later.
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In a previous op-ed, I had cautioned that Punjab cannot afford to approach this issue with political hesitancy. The state’s aquifers are collapsing, its rivers are dwindling, and its agrarian backbone is snapping under ecological stress. If there is ever a moment to take a resolute stand rooted in constitution, law, research, data, and dignity—this is it.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent actions suggest that he is seizing that moment with both hands.
He has forcefully argued Punjab’s case at national platforms, including the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, where he not only opposed the arbitrary release of 4,500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana but also demanded Punjab’s rightful share in Yamuna waters. He refused to buckle under pressure when the Centre deployed CISF forces at the Nangal Dam and insisted that the state will not bear the cost of a force deployed without its consent.
To be clear: deployment of Punjab Police or CISF at BBMB installations changes nothing in the flow of water. This is not a confrontation that can be reduced to uniformed personnel stationed on either side of a dam. It is a deep-rooted constitutional, ecological, and political conflict about the lifeblood of Punjab.
In this context, Bhagwant Mann’s assertive posturing is understandable—and even necessary in the short term. However, to transform this moment into lasting impact, his government must now pivot to a legally sound, technically robust strategy. Mere defiance will not sustain us in the long run. We must prepare a compelling case backed by hydrological data, satellite flow records, and comparative water table studies. A factual dossier that frames Punjab’s position within the constitutional principle of riparian rights will not only strengthen our claim before the judiciary but also silence those who paint Punjab as obstructionist.
This is also a moment to revisit the historic 2004 Water Termination Act, which was spearheaded by then Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh. At that time, the Supreme Court had threatened central intervention if Punjab did not comply with the orders to complete the SYL canal. It was Capt. Amarinder Singh—despite being warned by his own Irrigation Secretary, K.R. Lakhanpal, that he might lose his job—who stood by Punjab’s water before his own position. Lakhanpal, a proud Punjabi, played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation that sought to terminate all previous agreements that allowed the diversion of Punjab’s river waters to non-riparian states like Haryana and Rajasthan.
Their legacy deserves not just our gratitude but active revival. That legislative effort—brave, bold, and disruptive—was not the final word, but it was the right word at the right time. Carrying that momentum forward now is not only prudent but necessary.
Taking advice from individuals like Capt. Amarinder Singh and K.R. Lakhanpal, who have been at the center of this storm and emerged with their integrity intact, is not a matter of politics—it is a matter of prudence. Their insights, rooted in institutional memory and lived experience, could help Bhagwant Mann avoid legal and procedural landmines.
History is always watching. Today, it watches Bhagwant Mann.
Will he be remembered as a Chief Minister who postured and folded—or one who built a legal, scientific and moral embankment to defend Punjab’s lifeblood?