The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday heard a contentious petition filed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) concerning the escalating water dispute involving the Punjab & Haryana governments.
The court issued notices to all 3 parties—BBMB, Punjab, & Haryana—and scheduled the next hearing for 3 PM on May 6 (Tuesday).
At the heart of the legal battle is the deployment of Punjab Police personnel at the Nangal Dam, which the BBMB has challenged. According to BBMB’s counsel, Advocate Rajesh Garg, the state’s security forces have been stationed at the dam site without the board’s consent, obstructing its routine operations.
“We do not need or want Punjab Police protection. If there’s a need for security, we’ll seek it from the Central Government, not the Punjab Government,” Garg told the court.
Responding on behalf of Punjab, state representatives defended the move, citing rising tensions with Pakistan and the need to safeguard critical infrastructure like the dam. However, BBMB’s counsel argued that the presence of state police was not only unauthorized but also created operational hurdles that were affecting water release from the dam.
The court has now directed all parties to file comprehensive arguments ahead of the next hearing.
Earlier in the day, the dispute spilled into the political arena. During a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal introduced a resolution opposing the BBMB’s recent decision to release 8,500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana.
Goyal accused the BBMB of acting under political influence, calling it a “puppet of the BJP”. He warned that Punjab would not allow even a drop of extra water to be diverted from its share and described the BBMB’s April 30 late-night decision as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
Highlighting Punjab’s water challenges, the minister argued that the 1981 water-sharing agreement was outdated, and called for a new treaty reflecting current realities. He claimed Punjab had already given 4,000 cusecs to Haryana on humanitarian grounds, and further concessions were neither justified nor acceptable.
Goyal also criticised the Dam Safety Act, 2021, alleging that it erodes state autonomy and represents a broader effort by the Centre to seize control over Punjab’s water resources.
“This is not just about water—it’s about sovereignty. We will not allow anyone to occupy Punjab’s rivers under any law or conspiracy,” he said, accusing the BJP, Haryana, and BBMB of colluding to “strip Punjab of its rights.”
The issue is expected to remain tense as both legal and political battles over water sharing continue to unfold.
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