JAIPUR: Two Cabinet Ministers of Rajasthan on Thursday claimed that the neighbouring Punjab had agreed to provide the State's full share of 8.60 MAF water from Ravi-Beas rivers in accordance with the river water agreement signed among the partner States in 1981.

Punjab is presently supplying 8 MAF water to Rajasthan.

The Home Minister, Gulab Chand Kataria, and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Rajendra Singh Rathore, who attended the 25th meeting of the North Zone Council in Shimla on October 25, were reportedly assured "in principle'' by the Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, that his State was committed to providing Rajasthan's full share of river waters.

Adequate infrastructure

Mr. Kataria and Mr. Rathore told reporters here that Capt. Singh had assured during the meeting that Punjab would release the remaining quantity of .60 MAF water if Rajasthan proves that it has developed adequate infrastructure to utilise the water for irrigation, drinking and other purposes in the interest of farmers. "Punjab had so far been evading the issue despite the 1981 agreement specifying the share of each State. It has publicly stated its commitment to abide by the pact for the first time in the North Zone Council meeting,'' said Mr. Kataria.

He added that Rajasthan had constructed a large number of canals, distributaries and irrigation facilities during the last two decades to constitute adequate infrastructure.

Significant help

He said a significant help in getting the assurance from Punjab came from Haryana, which expressed its disapproval of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, and affirmed that the Ravi-Beas agreement should be implemented in letter and spirit. This is also the longstanding demand of Rajasthan. The State Government will shortly approach the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) with the relevant facts and figures proving that it had suitable infrastructure to fulfil the terms of the river water pact.

Mr. Kataria said the Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, would follow up the matter at the highest level.

Farmers' demand

Mr. Rathore pointed out that the availability of .60 MAF water to the State would result in the supply of 868 cusecs additionally every day which would serve an additional area measuring 3-lakh acres. Besides, it would help in supplying sufficient water to phase II of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project while meeting the demand of agitating farmers.

The two Ministers also raised the issue of pending share of Rajasthan in the 1,154 MW electricity produced by hydel power projects in the northern region, such as Theen dam, Anandpur Sahib, Mukeria and Shahpur Kandi at the North Zone Council meeting. The State has been demanding allocation of the share of 575 MW electricity in these projects.

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