CHANDIGARH: Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced on Wednesday that the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government is vigorously pursuing the recovery of long-standing dues owed to the state by other partner states in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He sharply criticized the previous SAD-BJP and Congress state governments, asserting that their neglect of Punjab's interests within the BBMB allowed other states to draw more than their allocated share of water and fail to make timely payments.
Addressing a Press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema confirmed that the Punjab government has formally addressed these critical issues with the defaulting states. “Punjab’s long-standing BBMB liability, amounting to Rs 113.24 crore, has now been officially forwarded to the Haryana government for settlement”, he added.
Giving details, the Finance Minister said that that a thorough reconciliation process, conducted by relevant Punjab officials, confirmed the outstanding amounts. “This includes Rs. 103.92 crore due to the XEN BML Canal Division, Patiala, and Rs. 9.32 crore for the Mansa Canal Division, Jawaharke, all pertaining to the reimbursement of actual expenditures incurred on the operation and maintenance of common carrier channels of the Bhakra Systems”, said Cheema.
Addressing a query regarding the BBMB's request for funds to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, representing the three crore people of the state, unanimously passed a resolution opposing the move. He further added that this resolution, which has been sent to both the Centre and the BBMB, expressed full confidence in the Punjab Police’s capabilities to secure the BBMB assets, , emphasizing that no mischievous elements have ever breached the security perimeter maintained by the Punjab Police.