The Centre, Haryana government, and Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) have opposed Punjab’s request to cancel a court order from May 6 related to the Bhakra water issue. Haryana called Punjab’s actions unlawful and misleading.
Punjab had asked the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take back or change its earlier order. Punjab said the court was wrongly told that a meeting on May 2 had made a clear decision about releasing extra water.
The court had ordered Punjab to follow the decision from that meeting. But Punjab claims the meeting had no clear agenda and the order was based on wrong and misleading facts shared by BBMB, Haryana, and the Centre.
Haryana responded strongly, saying the water from BBMB is crucial for Haryana’s farmers. It accused Punjab of disobeying the court order by sending police to the Bhakra-Nangal Dam and trying to take control of its operations.
The case was heard by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel. They gave Punjab one day to reply. Punjab’s lawyer Gurminder Singh said the Centre, Haryana, and BBMB had filed “misleading” statements.
BBMB, in its reply, said Punjab’s request had no value and was filed too late. It said if Punjab found any issue with the May 6 order, it should have spoken up immediately.
The Centre, speaking through the Ministry of Power, said that BBMB had already made a proper decision on April 30 to release water to Haryana as per the 1974 rules, and there is no need for the Centre to step in.
Even if the water release order is changed, BBMB said Punjab is still not allowed to interfere with dam operations, and contempt proceedings are still in place.
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