Premium

Its quota of seats going to other states, Punjab creates separate cadre for BBMB

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that by creating a separate cadre, employees will be prevented from returning to Punjab, but will instead serve exclusively at Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

The state government had earlier said that 3,165 posts meant for Punjab employees in BBMB are lying vacant. (File Photo)

The Punjab Cabinet Saturday gave its nod for creating an separate cadre of employees exclusively for posting in the Bhakra Beas Management Board. The decision, taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, comes in the backdrop of tense Centre-State relations over the Board, which is responsible for the administration, operation, and maintenance of the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas projects and regulates water and power supply to partner states.

Addressing media after the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “At present, our employees are posted in the BBMB on deputation. But sometimes their assigned duties get cancelled, following which the the BBMB fills the vacant positions from other states. Now we will have a separate cadre for the BBMB, and the employees will only be recruited to serve in Board”.

Later, an official statement said the Cabinet has given its nod to create 2,458 posts for recruitment in the BBMB in its various departments.

Cheema said that by creating a separate cadre, employees will be prevented from returning to Punjab, but will instead serve exclusively at BBMB.

The state government had earlier said that 3,165 posts meant for Punjab employees in BBMB are lying vacant. Of these, 1,381 are meant for employees of PSPCL and 1,784 from water resources and health departments, Cheema said.

The decision comes at a time when the Punjab government and the BBMB authorities have clashed on several issues in the recent past, including sharing of water with Haryana and the posting of CISF personnel at the Bhakra and Nangal dams. Last month, the AAP government had also alleged that the Centre wanted to grant permanent membership to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan in the BBMB, claiming the move would be a “direct attack on Punjab’s constitutional and riparian rights”.

The Centre had written to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan to include Himachal and Rajasthan as permanent members of the BBMB.

Story continues below this ad

Other decisions

In another decision, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 311 nurses in the health and family welfare department. In addition to this, recruitment of more than 400 additional nurses is currently underway, ensuring that every healthcare facility is adequately staffed to deliver quality nursing care.

The nurses will join before the first week of December, the spokesperson said.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to revive 16 vacant posts of child development project officers (CDPOs) for the effective implementation of the state and Centre’s schemes related to social security, women, and children.

It also approved to enhance the retirement age for administrative posts in the Department of Medical Education and Research from 62 to 65 years. The Cabinet also approved enhancing the retirement age of the dental teaching faculty from 62 to 65 years to help meet the shortage of teaching staff in dental colleges of the state, the spokesperson said.
The launch of the Navi Dishaa Scheme to address menstrual hygiene and distribute free sanitary napkins to adolescent girls and vulnerable women was also okayed by the Cabinet.

Story continues below this ad

The Cabinet also approved the creation of three new posts for the sports department in Malerkotla. It also gave green signal to creation of 51 posts of various cadres to functionalise the 30-bed hospital at Community Health Centre, Doraha. These include 11 posts of doctors.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
chandigarh