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54
ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : APRIL-JUNE 2005 / 537 NS
PUNJAB RIVER WATERS
– UNLAWFUL AND UNJUST DISTRIBUTIONS –
MEWA SINGH *
The problem of Punjab river waters has been made complicated
by its distribution to other non-riparian states in the last few decades.
These states had no legal or valid claim to these waters, which were to
be exclusively used for Punjab lands in accordance with riparian law.
The state of Punjab and its legislature have got the exclusive
jurisdiction over Punjab river waters under the provisions of
Constitution of India. Punjab has no surplus river water to spare, as it
does not meet even its own needs. The total annual flow of all the
three rivers of Punjab is 32.5 MAF, while its need is 52.5 MAF. The
distribution of Punjab river waters to other states has left the river
waters for only twenty five per cent of Punjab lands. The remaining
seventy five per cent are irrigated by tube wells. There are about a
million tube wells in the state. It has resulted in over exploitation of
the underground water, lowering its level too much. If this process
continues at this rate, it may become impossible to pump out the
underground water in the near future. Even now the centrifugal pumps
have become unworkable, and are being replaced by submersible
pumps at very high cost, which the farmers cannot afford. Experts
point out that the water at the lower table may be saline and unfit for
agriculture. It would cause serious problem even for the availability
of drinking water in Punjab. Bulk of Punjab lands would become
semi-deserts, unfit for agriculture. It is time now to let Punjab river
waters be exclusively used for Punjab lands, so that the people of
Punjab may be able to improve their ruined economy. It can never be
in the national interest to reduce Punjab lands to desert and to ruin its
* Judge (retd), Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, Presently in New Jersey, USA