Centre’s move to open BBMB posts to pool beyond Punjab, Haryana sparks ire

The Union government’s decision to open up posts of member irrigation and member power in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to officers from across the country has triggered a sharp political reaction in Punjab, with state minister Harjot Singh Bains calling the move an “attack on Punjab” and demanding its immediate rollback.

Reacting strongly, Bains said the decision has hurt Punjab’s interests and deviated from long-standing conventions governing the board’s functioning.

“This is a gift by the BJP to Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi. The Union government should immediately withdraw the decision, or the people of Punjab and the state government will fight against it,” he said in a statement issued here.

Even as the Centre’s notification remains under criticism, the prolonged vacancy of two crucial posts -- Member Irrigation and Member Power -- has further complicated the issue.

The Member Irrigation post, traditionally held by Haryana, has been vacant since September 9, 2020, while the Member Power post, earmarked for Punjab, has remained unfilled since September 26, 2022.

At present, the additional charge of Member Power is being handled by the Chief Engineer (Generation) in BBMB.

The Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers Association had objected to the delay in the appointment of members of the BBMB board, stating that keeping these posts vacant violates statutory provisions.

Its spokesperson, Vinod Gupta, had said the vacancies were contrary to Section 79(2) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, under which BBMB was constituted.

Engineers and experts argue that the current situation marks a clear departure from the established arrangement that had ensured the smooth functioning of BBMB for decades.

From its formation in 1966 until 2022, the board followed a fixed pattern: The Chairman was appointed by the Centre from outside partner states, while Member Irrigation came from Haryana and Member Power from Punjab.

According to sources, the Centre’s 2022 notification allowing engineers from across India to apply for these posts disrupted this balance. Both Punjab and Haryana opposed the move, leading to a stalemate and preventing regular appointments.

Padamjit Singh, chief patron of the All India Power Engineers Association, has urged the Centre to keep the notification in abeyance and restore the earlier system.

He said ad hoc arrangements were weakening the board’s functioning and contributing to inter-state disputes.

The BBMB was set up under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966 to manage the distribution of river waters and power among partner states, primarily Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh.

Experts point out that Punjab and Haryana hold the largest stakes in the board and bear the bulk of operational costs.

Given this, the long-standing practice of appointing Member Power from Punjab and Member Irrigation from Haryana was seen as a mechanism to ensure equitable representation and smooth coordination. Critics argue that altering this structure without consensus undermines both the spirit of the Act and cooperative federalism.

With the water-sharing dispute already escalating, the row over appointments and vacant posts in BBMB is now emerging as another flashpoint, setting the stage for a broader confrontation between Punjab, Haryana, and the Centre.