Punjab CM calls all-party meet on river water dispute

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal says another all-party meeting will soon be convened to thrash out the contentious river water-sharing disputes with Haryana.

Reiterating that Punjab did not have any surplus water, Badal said the parties's viewpoint should be conveyed to the Supreme Court, which has been moved by Haryana following differences over the Eradi Tribunal's interim report.

Disclosing this at the end of the second all-party meeting on the issue, Badal said the dispute should be resolved on the basis of riparian principles.

Speaking at the second meeting, Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal blasted the chief minister for projecting the meeting as an Akali Dal affair. CPI leaders Joginder Dayal and Hardev Arshi raised similar objections.

Agreeing to accord a grand reception to Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral who visits the state on Thursday and Friday, the meeting constituted a three-member co-ordination committee. Led by Akali leader B S Bhunder, the committee includes the Congress's Umrao Singh and the CPI's Arshi. The panel will review arrangements for the prime minister's visit.