Drama at Nangal dam: Bhakra Beas Management Board chief ‘locked up’ inside resthouse, stopped from releasing water to Haryana

Tripathi had reached the regulatory end of the dam on Thursday morning. However, AAP workers gathered at the spot did not allow him to release water. Later, he left for Sutlej Sadan, the BBMB’s rest house in Nangal.

After Bains reached the spot, the main gate of the rest house was locked, with Tripathi inside.

Talking to The Indian Express, Bains said that Tripathi reached the dam in the morning and tried to release the water to Haryana. “We did not allow it. We are sitting on a dharna outside,” Bains said.

Amid the tension at the border after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also arrived at Nangal from Chandigarh. Sources said he was accompanied by Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi.

“Taking immediate and firm action at Nangal Dam — we have successfully stopped BBMB’s illegal attempt to release Punjab’s water without state consent. Until Hon’ble CM @BhagwantMann ji arrives at Nangal, no further movement will be allowed. Punjab’s water is not negotiable,” Bains wrote in a post on X.

Later, Punjab Police personnel led by Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Bhullar reached the resthouse and got the main gate unlocked. “The agitating public had locked the gate. We spoke to them, asked them to open the gate, and said they should not take the law into their own hands. He has now been allowed to go,” Bhullar told the media.

AAP MLA from Chamkaur Sahib, Dr Charanjit Singh, who was at the spot, said that locals from the district had gathered there as they were upset at water being released.

Bains said that Tripathi was allowed to leave after an assurance that he would leave Punjab. “You can see how people are angry. The chairman was allowed to go after assurance by BBMB that he would leave Punjab,” Bains said.

‘AAP playing politics’

Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Thursday demanded that an FIR be registered against the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Education Minister Harjot Bains for illegally detaining the government official and chairman of BBMB and acting against national interests.

“The country is going through tough period and the CM is worried about his media space,” Bittu said. “BBMB chairman can go to his office or rest house…Will the chairman himself open or close the gates of the dam? Already the matter is pending in high court and Supreme Court, and already it is clearly said that not a single drop of water will be given to any state…then why the Punjab CM and AAP are politicising the issue?” he asked.

Bittu said BBMB chairperson Manoj Tripathi went to oversee the security of the dam because of the present situation (heightened tensions along the Indo-Pak border following Operation Sindoor). “Dams are the most vulnerable and if anything happens to the dam, Punjab will be the most affected… I have been MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib. I appeal to the people of Ropar to stop listening to the AAP leadership because they play divisive politics,” Bittu added.

Water woes

Punjab and Haryana have been squabbling over water, with Haryana seeking an additional 4,500 cusecs of water from Punjab, citing a shortage of drinking water. Already, 4,000 cusecs has been flowing to Haryana every day. Punjab, however, refused to release extra water, saying the neighbouring state had already exhausted its quota in March. Yet, it was being given 4,000 cusecs daily since April 3.

The high court had directed Punjab to comply with the central government’s decision to release additional water to Haryana, which was made during a meeting chaired by the Union home secretary on May 2. The Centre had asked BBMB to hold a meeting with both Haryana and Punjab and sort out the issue. It had also told Punjab to consider giving 4,500 cusecs of extra water to Haryana for drinking purposes, and the neighbouring state can return this water during the dam filling season.

While both Punjab and Haryana called all-party meetings on the issue, Punjab decided that it would not give an extra drop to Haryana.

After the May 2 meeting, the BBMB had called a meeting of partner states on May 3. Punjab, however, boycotted it, saying it was not legal and the BBMB needed to give seven days’ notice before calling the meeting.

On Monday, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution in a special session saying that it would not give a drop extra to Haryana. CM Mann announced on the floor of the House that water would not be given till May 20, when the yearly cycle of water comes to an end. He said that from the intervening night of May 20 and 21, they would release water to Haryana from their quota.

On Wednesday, the high court sought a resolution of the matter immediately. After the high court direction, it is learnt that the issue was put up to the chief minister. He, however, did not take any decision and asked the officials concerned to defer it.