Punjab ready to share water
The Punjab government on October 27, 2005, agreed to give the full share of 8.6 million acre feet (maf) water from the Ravi-Beas river system to Rajasthan. Experts believe this could prevent acute water wars in the desert state. Earlier, Punjab agreed to release only 8 maf water to Rajasthan, less than what is prescribed under the 1981 water-sharing agreement between the two states.
Punjab government does not wish to part with the water saying that the state required it for it's own agricultural needs. But for Rajasthan, this water could bring about 0.12 million ha of land under irrigation facilities in the command area of Indira Gandhi Canal. Rajasthan said since Punjab was generating about 1,154 megawatt of power from the river system, they should be given half of this power as per the agreement.