The matter of the ongoing dispute between Punjab and Haryana over the water of Bhakra will be heard in the Punjab and Haryana High Court today. During this, the reply will be filed by the Punjab government.
While the Central Government, Haryana and BBMB have already filed the reply. Under the new quota, water has been released to Haryana and Rajasthan. 17 thousand cusecs of water was released to Punjab, 10300 to Haryana and 12400 cusecs to Rajasthan.
At the same time, a meeting has also been scheduled on May 31 regarding the distribution of water. On the other hand, the central government has taken an important decision regarding the security of Bhakra Dam. Now the deployment of CISF has been approved there.
Earlier Himachal Pradesh Police was deployed for the security of Bhakra Dam, while the responsibility of security of Nangal Dam was given to Punjab Police
This is the reason for the decision of central security
The atmosphere in Punjab and Haryana had become tense due to giving additional water to Haryana. There was pressure from Haryana that the responsibility of security of Bhakra Nangal Dam would be handed over to the Central Security Forces. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala had also demanded deployment here from the government. At the same time, Haryana and BBMB had raised questions on security.
According to the first plan, 435 employees were demanded for the security of Bhakra Dam, but now the recruitment of 296 employees has been approved. A letter has been sent by the central government to the Director Security and Advisor of BBMB in this regard.
All the expenses of the central forces will be borne by BBMB. The estimated expenditure for the year 2025-26 will be Rs 8.58 crore. The expenditure will be Rs 2.90 lakh per employee. The living, movement and other things of the central forces will also be managed by Punjab.
Himachal and Punjab used to handle the responsibility
Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Police are deployed for the security of different points of the Bhakra Dam project. 288 posts are sanctioned for the security of the entire project, but 347 posts are deployed. 146 Punjab Police personnel are deployed at six points of Nangal Dam. Similarly, 201 personnel from Himachal Pradesh are deployed. The security of Sundar Nagar and Pong Dam is already handed over to CISF.
BBMB Chairman gave affidavit
BBMB Chairman filed an affidavit in the High Court. Actually, there was a water dispute going on between Punjab and Haryana for many days. Meanwhile, on May 8, BBMB Chairman reached Bhakra to release water. There, people and Aam Aadmi Party leaders stopped the release of water and held him hostage. After this, CM Bhagwant Mann himself reached Bhakra.
He had said that until the orders of the meeting held on May 2 under the leadership of Union Home Secretary are not given to him, he will not release water. During this time, BBMB had filed a petition in this matter.
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman Manoj Tripathi said in an affidavit that the Punjab Police obstructed him and his officers in dam operations. The court has asked the Punjab government to identify the policemen who obstructed the work. After this, the Punjab government took action in this matter.
The government had given this argument
The government had argued in the court that the state government spokesperson told that during the live court proceedings on May 8, 2025, BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi admitted that he was surrounded by only local citizens and the Punjab Police had helped him to get out safely.
However, in an affidavit dated May 9, 2025, Tripathi made the opposite allegation that he was kept in illegal custody, which is completely contrary to his previous court statement. As a result, the Punjab government used Section-379 of the Indian Civil Security Code (BNSS), 2023.
It requested the High Court to initiate an investigation into the offence under Section 215 of the BNSS, which deals with deliberately submitting a false affidavit. Apart from this, the state has sought to initiate contempt of court proceedings against both Tripathi and Sanjeev Kumar, Director (Water Regulation) for deliberately disobeying the High Court order dated May 6, 2025.
