Strong protagonist of riparian laws in Punjab: Bir Devinder fondly remember Late Pritam Singh Kumedan
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 19, 2022: Bir Devinder Singh, Former Deputy Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha fondly remembered Late Pritam Singh Kumedan PCS (Retd).
Former PCS officer Pritam Singh Kummedan, who spent his life guarding and fighting for the river waters, territories and every deprived rights of Punjab, passed away on Wednesday.
Kumedan, who had reached the age of 100 years, breathed his last in Fortis Hospital Mohali.
"It is devastating news to learn that an untiring crusader of Riparian Rights of Punjab and a ‘Treasure Trove’ of immeasurable knowledge about the Punjab River water’s Inter State disputes S. Pritam Singh Kumedan is no more. I vividly recall my 42 years old very fond association with him as a Young legislator of Punjab Legislative Assembly. He was my tutor on river water sharing disputes of Punjab with neighboring States of Haryana and Rajasthan. He was a rarely blessed person, with immense knowledge on the subject of Punjab river waters a ‘living archive’ having the possession of enormous details of authenticated History of River Water sharing disputes of Punjab covering all branches of the subject with date wise microscopic details," shared Bir Devinder Singh.
Singh added that Pritam Singh Kummedan was often consulted by many Chief Ministers, whenever they were to negotiate the Punjab River Water sharing dispute at various high power forums at the Center or the Tribunals.
"He was arguably a strong protagonist of the Riparian Rights of Punjab with all the logic at his command He was assigned a coveted Project by the Punjabi University, Patiala to pen down the history of Punjab River waters. I fondly recall when Mr. Pritam Singh Kumedan called me once, conveying to me that he would work on this project but will not accept any remuneration for this work from the Punjabi University, Patiala, except adequate secretarial assistance. I wish he was able to accomplish the assignment at hand during his lifetime," he added.