HC to Punjab: Give names of officers who halted water release

Orders compliance with May 6 order on release of extra water to Haryana

- Surender Sharma

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has reiterated its May 6 order on the release of an additional 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana and also sought names of officers from the Punjab government, who prevented the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) officers from releasing additional water from the Nangal Dam.

The high court bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sumeet Goel underlined that it was conscious of the sensitive atmosphere prevailing in the state due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan and therefore, contempt notices are not being issued to the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP).

"Accordingly (the court) refrains from issuing contempt notice and merely directs them to submit their replies by identifying those police personnel who were involved in restraining the chairman and functionaries of BBMB in discharging their official duties to operate and manage the Bhakhra Nangal Dam and Lohand control room water regulation offices," the court said while giving Punjab two top officials two-week time for reply. The court posted the matter for further hearing on May 28.