Chandigarh/jaipur, March 19 -- The Punjab government on Wednesday demanded royalty from Rajasthan for water supplied for its irrigation and drinking water needs, claiming an outstanding amount of Rs.1.44 lakh crore. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announced plans to recover the unpaid water royalty dues from the Rajasthan government under a 1920 tripartite agreement involving Rajasthan and the central government. He said the Rajasthan government owed this amount to Punjab for the water drawn through the Ferozepur feeder since 1960. The CM said that according to an agreement signed in the 1920s between the state of Bikaner, the erstwhile Punjab, and the British, Rajasthan had agreed to pay for water on a per-acre basis. "Payments were made until 1960, but after the Indus Water Treaty, Rajasthan stopped paying despite continuously drawing 18,000 cusecs of water," he told reporters. "If we calculate dues from 1960 to 2026, Rajasthan owes Punjab Rs.1.44 lakh crore. They want our water but are not willing to pay our dues," he said. A senior official familiar with the development said Rajasthan is a partner state and has also contributed its share of the financial expenditure. The official said it is already under consideration before an inter-state water dispute tribunal.htc...