Water stock available in 91 major reservoirs in the country is at 49 per cent of the total storage capacity and 21 per cent less than levels reported during corresponding period last year.
According to a statement issued by Union Water Resources Ministry, as on December 17, water stock available across major reservoirs was 76.926 billion cubic metres (BCM) as against the total storage capacity of 157.799 BCM.
The current stock is 75 per cent of the 10-year average for the corresponding period.
States having lesser storage than last year are Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura have reported better storage vis-a-vis last year.
(REOPENS DEL19)
Meanwhile, Union Minister Birender Singh disapproved of
the Punjab Assembly resolution, saying it went against the federal structure of the country.
12 years back too Punjab had brought similar water agreements termination Act and now Punjab Assembly had passed a new bill on SYL, "which is politically motivated move and one against federal structure", the Haryana leader said.
"If states start taking such decisions, then it will negatively impact the country," he said.
Taking a dig at Kejriwal, he said the Delhi CM's statement was made keeping an eye on next year's Punjab assembly elections. "That should not be the attitude when we talk of cooperative federalism," he said hitting out at Kejriwal.
"Efforts should always be made to strengthen the federal structure," he added.
Stepping up pressure on ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, Channi said Congress had remained at the forefront of protecting the state's interests led by the then CM Capt Amarinder Singh when the 2004 Act terminating the river water agreements was passed by the Assembly.
"Now, the onus lies on Mr Badal as you are Leader of the House and the Chief Minister (on way ahead)," Channi said.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, SAD General Secretary Harcharan Singh Bains said the SYL canal cannot be built under the present circumstances.
"They cannot allow it to be built in defiance of the rights of the state over its river waters. As you are aware, the petition filed by the state government challenging the Article 78 on the Government of India's power to distribute water between the states is still pending before the Supreme Court.
"So the position of the state government and also of the House now is that unless decision is taken on that petition, you cannot talk of the next step. It is like putting cart before the horse," Bains said.
The Punjab Cabinet had on Tuesday decided to despatch a cheque for Rs 191.75 crore back to Haryana which had sent it towards construction of the SYL canal.
Noting that Haryana government has shown strong resentment over Punjab's "unconstitutional" move on SYL canal issue, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar yesterday said his government has returned the cheque for Rs 191.75 crore "in original" to Punjab.
