Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated Friday that his state has no extra water to share with neighboring states, vowing to protect Punjab’s natural resources.

Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day farmers’ fair at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, Mann said sharing river water is off the table.

“Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state. The question of giving even a single drop does not arise,” Mann said, accusing previous administrations of compromising the state's interests for personal gain.

Mann highlighted his government’s efforts to modernize agriculture and protect groundwater, noting that canal irrigation coverage has expanded to 88 per cent. He added that 14,000 kilometres of underground pipelines have been laid, with plans to add another 7,000 kilometres by the end of the year.

The chief minister outlined several key agricultural initiatives, including bolstering seed research, investing 1.3 billion rupees ($21 million CAD) in horticulture, and fixing the country’s highest sugarcane price at 416 rupees per quintal.

Mann also urged the central government to support farmers by setting lucrative Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for alternative crops and offering financial assistance to discourage paddy straw burning.