Massive Farmer Protest in Ropar Forces Water Tribunal Delegation to Abort Scheduled Inspection
A high-level delegation from the Ravi-Beas Water Tribunal was compelled to abruptly cancel its planned field inspection in Punjab's Ropar district on Friday. The cancellation came after hundreds of local residents and farmers staged a massive, impassioned protest, effectively blocking the National Highway and vehemently opposing any further assessment of the state's river waters.
Delegation's Mission Thwarted by Intense Sit-In Demonstration
The delegation, led by tribunal chairman and former Supreme Court Judge Justice Vineet Saran, had arrived in Ropar with the objective of conducting a critical field visit. Their itinerary included inspections at the Bhakra Management Line (BML Head) and the Lohand Khad site near Kiratpur Sahib. This visit was a key component of the ongoing adjudication process to determine the distribution of surplus waters from the Ravi and Beas rivers among the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
However, upon reaching Bunga Sahib on the Ropar-Anandpur Sahib National Highway, the delegation encountered a fierce and determined sit-in protest. The blockade, spearheaded primarily by members of the Kirti Kisan Union, resulted in massive traffic disruptions that persisted for several hours. Reports indicated vehicle queues stretching nearly 30 kilometers back toward Ropar, bringing normal movement to a complete standstill.
Administration Prioritizes Safety, Defers Visit Indefinitely
The intensity and scale of the protest forced local authorities to prioritize the safety and security of all involved. Ropar Deputy Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal officially confirmed that the tribunal members were unable to reach their intended destination at Lohand Khad due to the impassable blockade. "We will plan another visit after further consultation with the tribunal," the deputy commissioner stated, indicating an indefinite postponement.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh provided further details, noting that the delegation was swiftly moved to a secure location—a local guest house—for their protection before the visit was officially deferred. The protest was eventually called off only after the administration confirmed the complete cancellation of the tribunal's inspection activities for the day.
Deep-Seated Fears Over Water Diversion and the SYL Canal Project
Local residents and farmer leaders articulated profound anxieties that the tribunal's visit signaled a precursor to reviving the highly controversial Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal project. Veer Singh, a prominent leader of the Kirti Kisan Union, voiced strong legal and environmental objections.
"This tribunal is not valid under international riparian principles, which state that a tribunal can only be formed if there is a dispute between riparian states," Singh asserted. "Punjab is already facing acute water scarcity and rapidly falling groundwater levels. We will not allow a single extra drop of water to be transferred out of our state."
Singh added that after the delegation retreated to the guest house, protesters issued a stern warning. "We warned that if they did not leave the district within a few minutes, they would face a gherao (encirclement) for the entire night. The delegation, however, later decided to quit from the guest house as well by the evening," he explained.
Protesters at the site echoed these sentiments, warning that any attempt to divert Punjab's water would have catastrophic agricultural consequences. Baljinder Singh, a resident at Bunga Sahib, declared, "We will not let Punjab's fertile land become barren. The people of Punjab are ready to cross any limit to protect their water rights and our future."
Historical Context of a Decades-Long Water Dispute
The Ravi-Beas Water Tribunal was originally constituted in 1986, and the dispute over the distribution of these river waters has remained a persistent flashpoint in Punjab's politics for nearly four decades. The conflict touches on issues of state rights, agricultural survival, and regional resource allocation.
Most recently, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti extended the tribunal's deadline to submit its final report to August of last year, underscoring the complexity and sensitivity of the matter. The current field visit was intended to collect crucial, on-ground hydrological data to inform this final adjudication. However, the move has instead triggered a fresh wave of intense political and public agitation across Punjab, reflecting the deep and unresolved tensions surrounding water sharing in the region.
