Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is set to raise key concerns related to the Panjab University Senate and Punjab’s water rights at the Northern Zonal Council meeting being held in Faridabad on Monday. The meeting is chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by chief ministers, governors and senior officials from northern states.
Before leaving for the meeting, Mann held discussions with top bureaucrats in Chandigarh and finalised Punjab’s strategy. Officials said the Chief Minister will strongly oppose any changes to the structure of the Panjab University Senate and will press for early elections, as the delay has already triggered protests by students on campus.
Political parties in Punjab have also criticised the Centre’s move, calling it an encroachment on the state’s federal rights.
Mann is also expected to raise Punjab’s objections to handing over control of the Ropar, Harike and Ferozepur headworks to the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB). He has maintained that Punjab cannot allow any dilution of its authority over its river waters. The issue of CISF deployment at Bhakra Dam is also likely to be flagged, with Punjab arguing that its police force has managed security effectively for years.
Flooding caused by the Ghaggar river during monsoon months is another matter Punjab plans to highlight, seeking coordinated steps among member states to prevent yearly damage. Mann will also insist on retaining Punjab’s 60 percent share in Chandigarh Administration posts.
The Northern Zonal Council, formed under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, provides a platform for resolving inter-state and Centre–state disputes. The Union Home Minister heads the council, while the vice-chairmanship rotates among member states. This year, the Chief Minister of Haryana is the vice-chairman.
Punjab officials said the state aims to clearly present all pending issues and press for timely decisions, especially on matters affecting governance, education and water resources.