Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab to claim Rs 1.44 lakh crore water royalty from Rajasthan: CM Mann; Watch Video
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 18, 2026: In a major announcement, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the state will now demand pending water royalty from Rajasthan, claiming an outstanding amount of approximately ₹1.44 lakh crore.
Speaking to the media, CM Mann revealed that under an agreement signed in 1920, Rajasthan had been paying Punjab fees in exchange for water.
This arrangement continued until 1960, after which Rajasthan stopped making payments. According to Mann, calculating the dues at current rates, the total amount now stands at ₹1.44 lakh crore.
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The Chief Minister also emphasized that if Rajasthan refuses to honor the old agreement, the state’s water supply should correspondingly be affected.
“Punjab will vigorously assert its rights and ensure this demand is addressed,” he said.
Mann further highlighted that Punjab is already grappling with water scarcity and questioned why, while other states demand water from Punjab for projects like the SYL, the pending dues owed to Punjab are ignored.