Conflict between Punjab and Haryana over water, CM Bhagwant Mann increases security of Nangal Dam
#News Bureau May 1,2025
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Strongly Opposes BBMB’s Decision to Allocate 8,500 Cusecs of Water to Haryana; Security Tightened at Nangal Dam
The decision to give 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has further deepened the water dispute between Punjab and Haryana. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly opposed this decision and termed it as ‘robbery on Punjab’s rights’. He said that the BJP government of the Center and Haryana have united against Punjab, but Punjab will not tolerate this ‘robbery’ at any cost.
Chief Minister Mann said, “The entire Punjab opposes the decision to give the water of Punjab and Punjabis’ rights to Haryana through BBMB. The BJP government is committing another robbery on the rights of Punjab, which we will not tolerate.” He also told that Punjab is in dire need of water for the upcoming paddy sowing and they do not have even a drop of extra water.
Security increased at Nangal Dam
After this decision of BBMB, the Punjab government has further tightened the security arrangements at Nangal Dam. According to sources, the Punjab government is considering legal options in this matter. In the BBMB meeting, Punjab officials had strongly opposed the release of additional water to Haryana and claimed that Haryana had already used its share of water.
Amid this controversy, Akashdeep Singh, Director Water Regulation in Nangal, who is from Punjab cadre, was transferred and replaced by Sanjeev Kumar of Haryana cadre. Sources say Akashdeep Singh had demanded a formal request letter before releasing water to Haryana on the instructions of the Punjab government. However, the transfer order claimed that it was done on Akashdeep’s demand, which he rejected.
The Chief Engineer of Punjab wrote a letter to BBMB saying that the new director Sanjeev Kumar has no experience of water regulation and his appointment is against the rules. Besides, BBMB Secretary Surinder Singh Mittal, who is from Haryana, was also transferred. The Punjab government alleged that Mittal played a key role in releasing additional water to Haryana.
Tension between Punjab and Haryana
The dispute deepened when Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini accused Bhagwant Mann of distorting the facts. Saini said that on April 23, the technical committee of BBMB had decided to give water to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan, but the Punjab officials are reluctant to implement it.
Meanwhile, opposition parties and farmers’ organizations of Punjab have also started protests against the decision of BBMB. Protests were held near Nangal Dam under the leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in which AAP leader Aman Arora said that they are ready to make any sacrifice against this decision.
Water dispute is old
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan get water for their irrigation and other needs from Bhakra and Pong dams, which are managed by BBMB. Every year from May 21, water quota is fixed for these three states. This year, the BBMB has allocated 3.318 million acre-feet (MAF) of water to Rajasthan, 2.987 MAF to Haryana and 5.512 MAF to Punjab.
Punjab claims that Haryana had already used 103% of its share of water in March and is now eyeing Punjab’s share. On the other hand, Haryana has claimed that it is facing shortage of water even for domestic use.
This water dispute is further complicating the already ongoing issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal between Punjab and Haryana. Punjab farmers and political parties are uniting on this issue, while pressure is mounting on the central government to reduce tensions between the two states. Chief Minister Mann has made it clear that Punjab will take every possible step to protect its water rights, even if it has to fight a legal battle. This dispute has once again brought the issue of regional water sharing into national discussion, and more heat is likely on it in the coming days.
