Bhagwant Mann rushes to Nangal fearing BBMB chairman ‘may force’ release of extra water to Haryana

A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court restrained the Punjab government from interfering in the operation and functioning of the Bhakra Nangal dam and Lohand control room, the Chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, Manoj Tripathi, is now headed for Nangal.

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As soon as the intimation of his visit was received by the Ropar district administration, the Chief Minister's office was alerted.

Swinging into action, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also rushed to Nangal. There is fear that the Chairman of the BBMB may force the officers at the dam site to release 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, which has become a major bone of contention between the two states.

Sources in the Punjab government have alleged that BBMB officials tried to release water forcible from Nangal dam. After which, police personnel deployed there had to detain them.

The Punjab government, supported by all Opposition parties in the state, has dug in its heels, saying it will not release any additional water to Haryana, beyond the 4,000 cusecs that is being given to the neighboring state after it had exhausted its allocated quota for the eight-month depletion period of the dam. Punjab claims that Haryana exhausted its allocated quota by March 31, though it should have used it until May 21.

On humanitarian grounds, the state has been giving an additional 4,000 cusecs to Haryana since April 4.

Punjab seeks details from  minutes of meeting held with Union govt on May 2 

The Punjab government has sent a letter to the Director Security of BBMB. In the letter, the government has requested details from the minutes of the meeting held on May 2, which was chaired by USecretary Govind Mohan.

The government also stated that no steps should be taken regarding the release of extra water until they receive the details of the minutes of the meeting.

Meanwhile, Punjab police have tightened security around the Nangal dam and Lohand control room.