BBMB moves HC against Punjab’s dam takeover

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Monday moved the High Court here, seeking the removal of Punjab Police personnel from the Nangal Dam.

The board contended that the state government “took control of the dam illegally” following a tussle over river water sharing with Haryana.

The board averred that the government action was “unconstitutional and illegal”, and it infringed on the BBMB’s statutory authority under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.

On May 1, Punjab Police personnel were deployed to take control of the Nangal Dam and Lohand Control Room Water Regulation Office, thereby obstructing the release of additional water to Haryana, as decided at a board meeting.

Punjab has argued that Haryana has already drawn more water than its allocated share and it does not have water to spare for the neighbouring state.

The petition states that on April 23, a decision was taken at a technical committee meeting regarding the release of 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, which was not complied with for eight days till May 1.

Since Punjab did not agree to release extra water beyond 4,000 cusecs, which was already being released to Haryana, the board during a meeting on April 30, asked Haryana to place the indent with the BBMB with a copy to Punjab for revised releases. This was not agreed to by Punjab.

“If Punjab had any objection to the decisions taken at the meeting. The procedures prescribed under the BBMB rules could alone be adopted by invoking the jurisdiction of the Central Government, but on May 1, Punjab forcibly took control of the operations through its police force and prevented release of water to Haryana,” the petition added.

The BBMB has contended that Punjab cannot resort to any illegal, forcible or arm twisting action, which is against the very spirit of statutory provisions.

It said in case of any disagreement with any partner state, the matter could only be taken up with the Centre, which is the final arbiter in accordance with the rules.

The BBMB said the matter of equitable distribution of water among partner states was of paramount importance, which also affected human rights and had environmental impact on agrarian economy in other member states.

It said no state could forcibly enforce its unilateral and whimsical decisions through the use of force.

In case, such action of any particular state is allowed to prevail, the same would lead to an anarchic situation where any and every state could enforce its own decision through the use of force, the BBMB said.