This is an archive article published on May 5, 2025
BBMB goes to court, terms Punjab’s dam takeover illegal; state accuses Haryana of mismanagement
The Punjab and Haryana High Court heard part arguments in the Bhakra Beas Management Board's plea. Punjab said no crisis now, as it opposes Haryana’s demand for 8,500 cusecs of water.
4 min readChandigarhUpdated: May 5, 2025 05:45 PM IST
Punjab deployed police personnel to take control of the Nangal Dam and Lohand Control Room Water Regulation Offices, thereby obstructing the release of 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana as decided in board meetings. (Source: File)
Opposing a plea filed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) seeking intervention against Punjab’s alleged obstruction of water release to Haryana, the state Monday informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Haryana had overdrawn its quota, and was now demanding irrigation water under the guise of drinking needs.
The matter was partly heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel and will continue on Tuesday. The court also received two public interest petitions on this issue, one from a Haryana gram sabha.
BBMB, in its petition argued by Senior Advocate Rajesh Garg, and advocates Neha Matharoo and Mandeep Singh claimed that on May 1, Punjab deployed police personnel to take control of the Nangal Dam and Lohand Control Room Water Regulation Offices, thereby obstructing the release of 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana as decided in board meetings. Garg termed Punjab’s action “unconstitutional and illegal,” and said it infringed on BBMB’s statutory authority under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.
Garg said when confronted, Punjab tried to gloss over its takeover by sending a letter to BBMB Monday morning, saying that they had increased security at BBMB in view of the tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
BBMB said the decision to increase water allocation was taken in its Technical Committee meeting on April 23 to address reported drinking water shortages in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi. The reallocation included 500 cusecs for Rajasthan and 496 cusecs for Delhi. Punjab, however, refused to comply beyond its voluntary offer of 4,000 cusecs, citing Haryana’s overuse and mismanagement of its share.
Appearing for Punjab, Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh ‘Garry’ submitted that BBMB records dated April 20 confirmed that both Haryana and Rajasthan had already drawn more water than allocated. “Not only has Haryana drawn beyond its share, it now wants the court to issue a mandamus for the release of Punjab’s water to them. That too, on the pretext of a crisis which no longer exists,” said the former advocate general.
Garry informed the court that despite Haryana’s overdraws, Punjab had, on humanitarian grounds, agreed to release 4,000 cusecs — more than double the 1,700 cusecs Haryana needs to meet its drinking water needs. “This was an act of generosity, but they now want 8,500 cusecs, which is clearly for irrigation —particularly for paddy — and not for survival,” he argued.
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He added that the original request from Haryana was due to temporary repairs on the Western Yamuna Canal (WYC), which had since been completed. “That was the emergency they had cited. Now the repair work is over. The water supply has resumed. Their own record before the BBMB shows that the additional water was only needed till May 1. That date has passed,” he said.
Garry also criticised BBMB for procedural violations, accusing it of calling emergency meetings with only 24-hour notice instead of the mandatory seven days under Rule 4 of the BBMB Transaction of Business Regulations. “Punjab raised objections as early as January 2025, warning of Haryana’s consistent overdrawals. Yet, BBMB failed to act,” he submitted.
BBMB underlined that under the Bhakra Beas Management Board Rules, 1974, disputes should have been escalated to the Central Government, not resolved through force. It further warned of potential disaster due to the police’s lack of expertise in dam operations.
The board sought a writ of mandamus to compel Punjab to withdraw its police force and vacate the premises, alongside an interim order restraining further interference. Additional prayers included summoning case records, dispensing with advance notice and certified annexures, and covering legal costs.
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Reiterating that Punjab was committed to its voluntary allocation, Garry maintained that the state could not allow further diversion of its resources. “We are not backing out of our commitment. But there is no question of agreeing to 8,500 cusecs now. The alleged emergency is over. What they are asking for is irrigation water disguised as a crisis,” he said.
Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US.
With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath.
Professional Background & Expertise
A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius
Her key focus areas include:
Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights.
International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila.
Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance:
1. Environment & Governance
"‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land.
"High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections.
2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare
"HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019.
"Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling.
"HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits.
3. Human Rights & Identity
"As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament.
"Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices.
Signature Beats
Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context.
Contact
@grewal_sharma on X
manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More
