In response to objections from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Punjab government has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that its deployment of state police at the Nangal dam is purely a security measure, not an interference with BBMB’s functions.
The affidavit, filed by the Punjab chief secretary, was submitted during hearings on BBMB’s petition challenging the presence of police officers at both the Nangal dam and the Lohand water-control room.
BBMB’s Allegations Of Unlawful Takeover
BBMB argued that Punjab police “forcibly took over the operation and regulation of the Nangal dam and Lohand Control Room water regulation offices and prevented the release of water to Haryana.” The board insists this move is both unconstitutional and illegal, and has sought an immediate order for removal of all police personnel from BBMB-managed facilities.
Punjab’s Security Concerns Amid Regional Tensions
Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh, representing Punjab, clarified after the hearing: “Punjab took a specific stand that neither the Punjab Police was interfering with BBMB’s work nor was it stopping them from doing their work.” He explained that senior police officials deployed forces at Nangal dam because of “cross-border tension” and the strategic importance of major dams. “Their apprehension was baseless,” Singh emphasized. “Police have been deployed for security purposes as the dams are important structures for the Centre and the state.”
Centre’s Position On BBMB’s Multi-State Mandate
Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, argued on behalf of the Union government, highlighted BBMB’s role as a multi-state authority representing Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi. He noted BBMB’s resolution to release “8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana for eight days” and pointed out that Punjab had the opportunity to legally challenge that decision but did not. “Now they have deployed the force at the Nangal dam, not allowing the BBMB to operate and regulate the water flow,” Jain said, referring to the May 2 meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary, which reaffirmed the board’s resolution. He urged the High Court to direct Punjab to ensure the BBMB’s uninterrupted operation and to guarantee water delivery to Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
Punjab’s Water-Sharing Stance
Punjab maintains it has already provided 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana “on humanitarian grounds” and refuses the additional 4,500 cusecs by asserting that Haryana exhausted its allocated share by the end of March. BBMB’s technical committee, on April 23, had decided on the 8,500-cusec release, including allocations of 500 cusecs to Rajasthan and 496 cusecs to Delhi. A follow-up BBMB meeting on April 30 instructed Haryana to submit a fresh indent directly to the board—copies to Punjab and Rajasthan—for any further releases and mandated daily compliance reports. Punjab, however, has not acquiesced to these directives.
Pending High Court Verdict
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, has reserved its decision. Meanwhile, advocate Ravinder Singh Dhull’s separate petition and a Haryana gram panchayat’s similar plea were consolidated with BBMB’s case. All parties await the court’s ruling on the legality of Punjab’s police deployment and the enforcement of BBMB’s water-release resolutions.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
