Chandigarh: In a development that could escalate inter-state tensions, the Punjab government has demanded recovery of long-pending water royalty payments from Rajasthan, claiming dues worth ₹1.44 lakh crore for water supplied over several decades.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the state government is pursuing unpaid royalty charges linked to water supplied to Rajasthan since 1960. According to Punjab, Rajasthan continued receiving water despite stopping royalty payments decades ago.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Mann stated that Rajasthan had been paying water royalties until 1960 but discontinued payments even as supply continued uninterrupted. He warned that Rajasthan must either clear the outstanding dues or face possible action, including reconsideration of water supply arrangements.
Historical Agreement at the Centre of Dispute
The controversy relates to a historical water-sharing arrangement signed in 1920 involving the British administration, the princely state of Bahawalpur (now in Pakistan), and the ruler of Bikaner. Under this agreement, Rajasthan was required to pay royalties for water supplied through canal systems.
Mann explained that the current claim concerns water delivered through the Ferozepur Feeder and Rajasthan Feeder canals. Punjab alleges that Rajasthan continues to draw nearly 18,000 cusecs of water, while royalty payments stopped after the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Chief Minister argued that the 1960 treaty did not explicitly cancel royalty obligations under the earlier agreement. He further noted that the 1920 agreement required periodic reviews every 25 years, which were never conducted by successive governments.
Punjab Writes to Rajasthan Government
Punjab has formally written to the Rajasthan government, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, seeking discussions to resolve the issue.
“If calculated from 1960 to 2026, the total dues amount to ₹1.44 lakh crore,” Mann said, adding that Punjab is prepared to approach the Central Government if negotiations fail.
He also questioned why states demanding water through the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal remain silent on what Punjab calls massive unpaid dues.
Political and Water Policy Implications
The dispute could trigger a fresh debate on inter-state river water sharing and historical agreements governing canal systems in northern India. With Punjab warning of possible restrictions on water drawal, attention is now focused on Rajasthan’s response and potential intervention by the Centre.
