BBMB slaps Rs 17-lakh notice on Bittu over 2 Nangal houses

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities have issued a recovery notice of Rs 17.62 lakh to Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu for the “illegal possession” of its houses in the Nangal township colony.

Bittu had been allotted two houses in the BBMB colony in Nangal when he was a Congress MP from the Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency (2009–14). The houses, 45-I and 48-I, which still remain in Bittu’s name, currently house the Congress’ office.

Sources in the BBMB told The Tribune that repeated notices had been sent to Bittu to vacate the houses, but no response had been received. Since the houses were being occupied illegally in his name, the BBMB had been imposing penal rent on the property. As the rent has not been paid, officials sent a recovery notice of Rs 17.62 lakh to the minister last month.

The sources said Bittu was yet to respond to the notices. He was not available for comment despite repeated calls and WhatsApp messages on his mobile phone.

A political storm broke out in September after it emerged that the Congress office in Nangal continues to be registered in the name of Bittu, even though he left the Congress to join the BJP and is now part of the NDA government.

The office, located at house number 48-I in the BBMB colony, was allotted in Bittu’s name when he was a Congress MP. Though Bittu later shifted to contest from Ludhiana and eventually switched to the BJP, the Nangal Congress office has remained in his name for more than a decade.

The revelation has triggered sharp political murmurs in the region. Many have questioned how the Congress can continue operating from an office officially registered in the name of a BJP minister, while others accuse rival groups of blowing the matter out of proportion.

After the matter was reported in these columns, the BBMB authorities issued a notice to Bittu. With no response received, they have now sent a recovery notice of Rs 17.62 lakh to the minister.

Meanwhile, former Punjab Assembly Speaker KP Rana, whose team manages the Congress office, maintained that while the allotment remained in Bittu’s name, the electricity meter was in his (Rana’s) name and bills were being paid regularly.

The office at 48-I has long been an epicentre of Congress activity in the region, hosting strategy meetings, party gatherings, and public outreach programmes. Its continued association with Bittu’s name has now provided political opponents with fresh ammunition, creating embarrassment for the Congress.

The controversy over the ownership and usage of the Nangal Congress office appears set to intensify further as the campaign for zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections heats up.