On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann firmly stated that the state cannot spare any water for other states. He made this declaration before the Ravi Beas Water Tribunal, responsible for resolving water disputes between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

During a meeting with the tribunal, chaired by Justice Vineet Saran and attended by members Justice P. Naveen Rao, Justice Suman Shyam, and Registrar Rita Chopra, Mann reiterated that Punjab has no excess water to share and said no question on giving even "a single drop" to any other state. Punjab does not have excess water to share with other states and needs a reassessment of water availability based on international standards, Mann stated in an official release.

During a visit by tribunal members inspecting the Ravi water system, he urged them to ensure justice for Punjab’s people. Mann highlighted that 76.5% of Punjab’s groundwater blocks (117 out of 153) are overexploited, with groundwater extraction exceeding 100%, compared to 61.5% (88 out of 143) in Haryana.

With most of Punjab’s River resources drying up, the state requires more water for irrigation. Mann emphasised the critical situation and said that Punjab struggles to provide water even to its farmers.

Mann stated that under the current circumstances, Punjab cannot share even a single drop of water with any other state. He emphasised that the Punjab government has consistently raised concerns about water scarcity on various platforms. Highlighting the importance of protecting resources for future generations, he stressed the need to "protect the rights of our coming generations," as mentioned in the statement.

"The Punjab government is duty-bound to ensure that the interests of the state and its people are safeguarded by all means, and no stone will be left unturned for it," Mann claimed.

The chief minister informed the tribunal that, like the Ravi and Beas rivers, the Yamuna also flowed through the former state of Punjab before reorganisation. However, while the waters of the Ravi and Beas were considered during the division of river resources between Punjab and Haryana, the Yamuna was not included in the apportionment.

Mann stated that Punjab has repeatedly strived to participate in negotiations over Yamuna water allocation. However, he noted that "our request has not been considered on the ground that no geographical area of Punjab falls in the Yamuna basin." Mann stated that Haryana is not a basin state of the Ravi and Beas rivers, yet Punjab is compelled to share their waters. He argued that if Haryana is entitled to Ravi-Beas waters as Punjab’s successor state, then Punjab should also receive a share of Yamuna waters under the same principle.

The chief minister added that the Punjab government is actively working to maximise the use of canal water for irrigation. When he took office, he said only 21% of the state’s canal water was being used. "It is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that today, 84 per cent of canal water is being used for irrigation purposes," he expressed.

The chief minister stated that the groundwater level has begun to rise thanks to the state government's dedicated efforts. According to a government report by the union, the number has increased by one meter.