Punjab Bullying All Institutions: Centre on Water-Sharing Row

It is bullying of all the institutions—government of India, including the court and the BBMB, by the Punjab government SATYA PAL JAIN, additional solicitor general of India

- HT Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: The Centre on Monday expressed its displeasure over the controversy surrounding the Punjab government not allowing the release of additional water to Haryana by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in April and alleged that the state government has tried to "dictate its terms everywhere".

"It is bullying of all the institutions—government of India, including the court and the BBMB, by the Punjab government," additional solicitor general of India, Satya Pal Jain, who appeared for the Centre, said responding to Punjab's allegations that all the institutions—BBMB, Haryana and Centre tried to bully the state in giving additional water to Haryana.

The statement by the Centre was made before the bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sumeet Goel during a hearing of a plea filed by Punjab seeking recall of the court's May 6 order. On May 6, the high court directed the Punjab government to not interfere with the functioning of the BBMB and to abide by the Union home secretary's May 2 decision, which asked BBMB to release an additional 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana.