Chandigarh, March 19 -- The Punjab government on Wednesday demanded royalty from neighbouring Rajasthan for water supplied for its irrigation and drinking needs, claiming a staggering outstanding amount of Rs.1.44 lakh crore.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced plans to recover unpaid water royalty dues from the Rajasthan government under a 1920 tripartite agreement, following which the neighbouring state began receiving water. He said Rajasthan gave royalty to Punjab for water till 1960, but it stopped thereafter. "The Rajasthan government owes this amount to Punjab for the water drawn through the Ferozepur feeder, for which not even a single paisa has been paid for the past more than six decades," he added.

Refuting such claims, a ...