New Delhi: Expressing concern over the water crisis in Northern India, Punjab Chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Saturday sought the Prime Minister's support for the upgradation of his state's water distribution infrastructure, while calling for a fresh river waters tribunal to address the disputes among neighbouring states in view of their dwindling water availability.
The Chief Minister, in his speech circulated at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, which he could not attend owing to indisposition, suggested a fresh water rivers tribunal to resolve water related tensions among states. He has also called upon the Prime Minister to provide a one-time debt waiver to mitigate the distress of indebted farmers.
He urged the centre to increase the annual assistance under PM-KISAN from Rs. 6000/- to Rs. 12,000/- per farmer, and to also include farm workers in its sweep. He also thanked the NITI Aayog for acknowledging the State's initiative, `Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao'. Another significant issue raised by the Chief Minister related to assistance for proper development of Punjab's border areas, which he said was a national responsibility. Captain Amarinder regretted that the Centre had not taken any action on the state's similar demand, for a special package for border areas, raised in the last two meetings. He also called for greater inter-State cooperation to effectively tackle cross-border crimes.
Amarinder demanded increase in the deployment of paramilitary forces along the Punjab border as well as a special financial assistance package for upgradation of police in the border areas, where it formed the second line of defence.
Meanwhile, in a letter to PM Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said Punjab was witnessing an alarming degree of over-utilization of ground water, mainly due to the extensive cultivation of paddy which supports national food security.