In Chandigarh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Punjab state and its police to stop interfering with the daily operations of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam. This dam is managed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The judges said that while Punjab can protect the dam and its workers, it must not disrupt how the dam operates or how water is managed.
On May 6, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Summet Goel ruled that Punjab should follow what was decided in a meeting on May 2 led by the Union home secretary. This meeting suggested that BBMB should release an extra 4,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Dam to Haryana for the next eight days. This additional water is needed to help Haryana deal with its urgent water problems.
The court also explained that if Punjab disagrees with any decision made by the BBMB, it can raise its concerns through a formal process to the Central Government.
The BBMB, which manages the dam, complained to the high court about Punjab Police being at the Nangal Dam. They said it was wrong and that the police took control of the dam’s operations and stopped water from being released to Haryana. In its complaint, the BBMB asked the court to order Punjab to remove the police since they were there without any legal right.
In response to a water sharing issue with Haryana, Punjab’s government told the court that the police presence was just for security and that they weren’t interfering with the dam’s functioning. A separate petition also claimed that Punjab illegally stationed police at key sites related to the dam.
It’s important to know that on April 23, the BBMB decided to send 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. However, Punjab argued that it is already providing 4,000 cusecs of water on humanitarian grounds and would not send the extra 4,500 cusecs because Haryana had already used its share for the year by March.
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