Punjab alleges 'systemic mismanagement' in Beas-Satluj link project; cites Rs 227 crore loss, water-security concerns

The Punjab Government has raised concerns over what it describes as “systemic mismanagement” of the Beas–Satluj Link (BSL) Project and the 990 MW capacity Dehar Power House by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

The Punjab government has alleged that huge financial losses worth Rs 227 crore have been caused to partner states due to reduced power generation and a potential threat to water security for partner states because of operational failures and inadequate maintenance of the BSL project.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman, BBMB, and the Union Ministry of Power, the Principal Secretary, Water Resources, Punjab, has demanded an independent, time-bound audit of the BSL Project and Dehar Power House operations beginning from the 2023 filling season.

The copy of the letter, which was available with The Tribune, alleges a pattern of technical failures, silt accumulation, equipment non-availability, and questionable administrative decisions that have cumulatively caused hundreds of crores in losses.

The Chairman of BBMB, Manoj Tripathi, when contacted, termed the generational losses alleged by the Punjab government as notional. He said that the Dehar power project was closed from November 18 to December 3 after a decision was taken in the technical committee of the board, in which the Chief Engineer-level officer of Punjab also participated.

The BBMB would reply to the concerns raised by the Principal Secretary, Water Resources, Punjab, he said. According to official correspondence, the Balancing Reservoir at Sundernagar, critical for regulating flows and supporting generation at Dehar Power House, has suffered from excessive silt deposition owing to inadequate dredging over the last two years.

This has severely impaired the reservoir’s storage capacity and disrupted optimal water diversion into the Sutlej. This mismanagement allegedly forced the BSL system to operate below capacity during crucial months, causing ripple effects across multiple hydropower assets, Punjab has alleged.

During the May–September 2025 period, the Punjab Government said that three out of six generating units at Dehar Power House remained non-operational, drastically reducing daily power generation capacity. Punjab has alleged a generation loss during this period of Rs 227 crore, while peaking losses alone exceeded Rs 233 crore.

The Punjab government has alleged that due to reduced diversion of Beas water into the Beas-Sutlej Link (BSL) system, Pong Dam water levels rose well above expected averages, reaching 1376 ft, 30 ft above the seasonal levels. Punjab has alleged that this imbalance would jeopardise water availability to all partner states and compromise irrigation and drinking water supplies. Punjab has alleged that it alone is losing Rs 26.52 lakh per day, while the total daily estimated loss to partner states exceeds Rs 1.8 crore.

The Principal Secretary, Water Resources, Punjab, has alleged that BBMB is assigning Punjab officers to key posts only after a failure occurs, in an attempt to “shift responsibility.”

Punjab has formally requested a comprehensive loss-assessment report, identification of officials responsible for lapses in maintenance, dredging, and generation operations, strict disciplinary action under service rules, and placement of the matter before the next BBMB Board meeting.

Regarding inadequate dredging in the balancing reservoir of the Dehar power project, the Chairman BBMB said that silt increased in the Beas river this monsoon due to floods and landslides in Himachal. "We have issued tenders for cleaning silt from the Balancing Reservoir of the Dehar project and the work will start soon."

About the states facing a shortage of water due to poor maintenance of the Dehar project, the Chairman said that there was enough water in both Pong and Bhakra dams to meet the demands of partner states.