BBMB in deep waters over inter-state dispute

For the first time since its inception six decades ago, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) finds itself in the crosshairs of an unseemly water-sharing dispute between partner states Punjab and Haryana, ruled by political rivals.

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

CHANDIGARH:

The controversy began on April 30 when the BBMB accepted Haryana's request for the release of a surplus 4,500 cusecs of water daily from the Bhakra-Nangal dam to which Punjab objected, saying the neighbouring state had exhausted its allocated share.

Three of the BBMB's member states, BJP-ruled Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, voted in favour of releasing the surplus water, outnumbering AAP-ruled Punjab, while Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh abstained.

A statutory body constituted under Sections 79 and 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the BBMB plays a central role in the distribution of water among partner states -- Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. At the beginning of the accounting year in August-September, depending on the monsoon, the BBMB determines the amount of water to be allocated to each state. For this year, the board allocated 5.512 million acre-feet (MAF) to Punjab, 2.987 MAF to Haryana, and 3.318 MAF to Rajasthan.

While Haryana sought the surplus water for drinking water purposes in Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad districts, Punjab called a special session of the assembly on May 5 after an all-party meeting and resolved it didn't have a drop to spare for the neighbouring state that had already withdrawn 3.110 MAF or 104% of its share for the year.