Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday asserted that the Punjab Government will stake claim to ₹1.44 lakh crore from the Rajasthan Government for decades of unpaid water usage, making it clear that Rajasthan must either release Punjab’s rightful dues or stop drawing water, while also calling for a review of the historic 1920 agreement governing this arrangement.

Interacting with the media, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Rajasthan Government owes ₹1.44 lakh crore to Punjab for the water drawn through the Ferozepur Feeder since 1960, for which not even a single penny has been paid. Rajasthan must either release Punjab’s rightful dues or stop taking water.”

He stated that as per an agreement signed in the 1920s between the state of Bikaner, the erstwhile Punjab, and the British, Rajasthan had agreed to pay for water on a per-acre basis. “Payments were made till 1960, but after the Indus Water Treaty, Rajasthan stopped paying despite continuously drawing 18,000 cusecs of water,” added CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Highlighting the contradiction in Rajasthan’s stand, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Even today, Rajasthan continues to draw water under the 1920 agreement, but when it comes to paying dues, it takes shelter under the 1960 arrangement.”

He further stated, “The governments at that time, while entering into the new arrangement in 1960, did not mention payment, but they also never cancelled the 1920 agreement.”

Raising serious questions over past inaction, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The agreement clearly mandated a review every 25 years, but previous governments never raised this issue or pursued Punjab’s rightful claim.”

Reiterating the historical context, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Under a 1920 agreement signed during the British era with Bikaner, 18,000 cusecs of Punjab’s water was supplied continuously till 1960. However, after the Indus Waters Treaty, there was no mention of this arrangement. If we calculate dues from 1960 to 2026, Rajasthan owes Punjab ₹1.44 lakh crore.”

The Chief Minister further noted, “We have raised this issue with both the Union Government and the Rajasthan Government.” He added, “The Punjab Government has also written a letter to the Rajasthan Government seeking a meeting to discuss this issue.”

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that Punjab will pursue the matter firmly, stating, “Our government seeks a review of the 1920 agreement so that Punjab can recover its rightful dues. We will raise this issue strongly at all appropriate forums and ensure that Punjab gets what is rightfully its own. We will leave no stone unturned to recover this money.”