Don't Interfere in Bhakra Dam Op, HC Tells Punjab

The Punjab and Haryana high court has restrained the Punjab government and its functionaries, including police personnel, from interfering in the functioning of Bhakra Nangal Dam, which is under the operational control of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

- Surender Sharma

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has restrained the Punjab government and its functionaries, including police personnel, from interfering in the functioning of Bhakra Nangal Dam, which is under the operational control of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

A bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sumeet Goel also directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab to comply with the BBMB's recent decision to release additional 4,500 cusecs of water for meeting the emergent needs of Haryana.

"State of Punjab and any of its functionaries, including police personnel, are restrained from interfering in the day-to-day functioning, operation and regulation of the Bhakra Nangal Dam and Lohand control room water regulation offices managed by BBMB," the court said in its order dated May 6.

The court's direction came on a petition moved by the BBMB—a central body that manages and regulates water in Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams—which alleged that Punjab police had "forcibly" taken over operational control of the Nangal dam after a recent decision for the release of 8,500 cusecs water to Haryana and other states.