A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court told the Punjab government not to interfere in the running of the Bhakra Nangal dam and Lohand control room, tensions have risen again. The Chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Manoj Tripathi, is now on his way to Nangal.
As soon as the Ropar district officials heard about his visit, they informed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also rushed to Nangal.
The Punjab government fears that the BBMB Chairman might try to release 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, which Punjab strongly opposes. Water sharing between the two states has become a big issue.
Sources in the Punjab government claim that BBMB officials tried to force the release of water from the Nangal dam and were stopped by the police.
Punjab says Haryana has already used up its water share by March 31, even though the quota was meant to last until May 21. Still, on humanitarian grounds, Punjab has been giving Haryana 4,000 cusecs of extra water since April 4.
The Punjab government has now asked BBMB for details of a meeting held on May 2 with the Union Government. Until those details are shared, Punjab says no extra water should be released.
Security has been increased around the Nangal dam and Lohand control room.
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