BBMB’s foundation lacks federal and legal legitimacy

THE Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), established by the Government of India in 1976 under Section 79 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, has long stood as a critical administrative body overseeing the Beas and Sutlej rivers and their associated hydroelectric projects. Yet, despite its integral role in managing water distribution and power generation, the board’s legal foundation remains constitutionally fragile as the PRA was enacted under Article 3 of the Constitution, which deals with the formation of new states and alteration of boundaries and names of existing states. The BBMB’s existence, devoid of a dedicated parliamentary statute grounded in robust constitutional provisions as per Article 262 read with Entry 56 of List I, raises concerns about federalism, riparian rights and the rule of law within the complex water governance framework.