Jaipur, March 21: The Rajasthan government has firmly rejected Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s demand for a water royalty of ₹1.44 lakh crore. The state labeled the claim as unconstitutional and legally unsound.
Mann referenced a 1920 agreement between the British government, the Bikaner state, and Bahawalpur (now in Pakistan), stating that Rajasthan should settle its dues or cease water extraction.
In response, Rajasthan’s Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat clarified that the fee from that agreement was meant for the British government, not Punjab.
He explained that post-independence agreements in 1955, 1959, and 1981 regarding the distribution of water from the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers do not include any provisions for royalty or additional charges. Therefore, Punjab’s demand is incorrect and illegal.
Rawat cited Article 262 of the Constitution, asserting that water from rivers flowing between states is a national resource, under the jurisdiction of Parliament. It cannot be bought or sold like a commodity.
He also stated that it is unconstitutional and illegal for one state to demand royalties for shared river water. The Rajasthan government remains fully committed to protecting the rights of its farmers.
Regarding water distribution, he noted that Rajasthan was allocated 8.00 MAF in the 1955 agreement and 8.60 MAF in the 1981 agreement, both of which lacked any royalty provisions.
Currently, Rajasthan receives water from the Bikaner Canal, Rajasthan Feeder, Bhakra Main Line, and Sirhind Feeder, all managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) under the Government of India.
Following Rajasthan’s rejection of the claim, Chief Minister Mann announced in a press conference in Chandigarh that his government would take the matter to court.
He stated, “Let them say what they want in court.”
Mann had previously claimed that Rajasthan paid Punjab water royalties until 1960, after which payments ceased. According to him, the outstanding amount has now escalated to ₹1.44 lakh crore from 1960 to 2026. Water from Punjab reaches Rajasthan’s desert regions via the Indira Gandhi Canal.
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