The Centre’s decision to appoint Haryana’s senior irrigation engineer BS Nara as Member (Irrigation) of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for six months has triggered a political storm, deepening the already simmering water-sharing conflict between Punjab and Haryana. Issued by the Union Ministry of Power and approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the move has been met with sharp criticism from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who termed it “unilateral and unacceptableâ€, further escalating the Centre-state friction over control and decision-making within the BBMB.
Coming at a time when tempers are running high over the water sharing from the Bhakra dam, the appointment is being seen as a strategic, if contentious, intervention by the Union Government. Mann questioned the legitimacy of the decision, reiterating Punjab’s long-standing demand for the BBMB’s restructuring, citing disproportionate representation. “Punjab contributes 60 percent to the BBMB, but gets only one vote, the same as Haryana and Rajasthan. This is unjust. If the Centre continues to act arbitrarily, it will only fuel mistrust,†he said. The Chief Minister further asserted that Punjab has already released Haryana’s quota of water from May 21 and will not entertain any new demands until June 21.
BS Nara, a seasoned engineer currently serving as Chief Engineer in the Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department, assumed charge under the Centre’s directive, which allows him to hold the position for six months or until a regular appointment is made. His elevation coincides with Punjab’s recent move to curtail Haryana’s water supply from 8,500 cusecs to 4,000 cusecs till May 20 — an action that led to acute drinking water shortages across 10 districts in southern Haryana and pushed the dispute to the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Punjab had argued that Haryana had already overdrawn its share of water, and its drinking water requirements will be met with 4000 cusecs water, being released from Bhakra dam.
The matter, which has already seen intense political and legal sparring, took a more serious turn last week when the High Court completed its hearing on a review petition filed by the Punjab Government, and reserved its verdict. During the proceedings, the Court had reportedly made several pointed observations, underscoring the gravity of the ongoing dispute and the potential implications on inter-state federal relations.
The matter, hovering around the release of additional water to Haryana, is pending before the High Court and is scheduled to come up for further hearing on May 28.
The BBMB, which oversees the management of the Bhakra and Beas projects — lifelines for both Punjab and Haryana — now finds itself at the heart of this raging controversy. The Centre has justified Nara’s appointment as an administrative necessity aimed at ensuring “impartial oversight†and “efficient management†of water distribution amidst the growing tensions. However, critics argued that appointing a Haryana-based engineer to a key post during a politically sensitive water-sharing crisis undermined Punjab’s concerns and could jeopardize the BBMB’s credibility as a neutral institution.
Adding to the charged atmosphere, the Union Home Ministry had recently approved the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh, following reports that Punjab Police had taken control of the dam and allegedly obstructed the BBMB from restoring water supply to Haryana.
