Share platoon: Requests made in HC for deployment of Punjab police in Bhakra Headworks

In an image posted by @Bhagwantmann on May 1, 2025 via X, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with Bhakra Beas Management Committee (BBMB) officials and others during a visit to Nangal Dam in Rupu Nagar District, Punjab. |Photo source: PTI

The Punjab and Haryana High Court filed a petition that (3 May 2025) targeted the deployment of the Punjab police officers allegedly working in the head of Bakra, claiming that this hindered the release of water to Haryana.

The development erupted with a row of water sharing between Punjab and Haryana.

Punjab, ruled by AAP, refused to release more water to the BJP-regulated Haryana, claiming that neighbors “had used 103% of the water allocated by March”.

According to a petition filed by advocate Ravinder Singh Dhull, the Punjab government has “illegal deployment” of police officers in BBMB Bhakra Headworks and Lohand Khud Escape Channel while violating all constitutional duties.

Petitioners say Haryana and Lord Kud escape channels must increase the flow of water. The number one regulatory gate of Bakra is now under the control of the Punjab police.

If the police do not allow the surveillance machine doors working at the head of Bhakra and allow water to flow through the Lohand Khud Escape Channel to Harike, 8,500 CUSECs cannot be allocated to Haryana.

The petitioner claimed that Punjab had no legal right to be able to place the police force and violate the basic rights stipulated in Article 21 of Haryana residents.

It is worth noting that the Punjab government has strengthened safety on the Nanga Dam, located downstream of the Bakra Dam.

Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains once said they had “controlled” the Nangal Dam, the rooms where water supply was regulated were locked and their keys were granted to the police.

The petition states that the Bakra Dam is one of the main sources of irrigation water for Himaal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi states.

The technical committee of the Bhakra Beas Management Committee decided on April 23 to provide 8,500 cusecs to Haryana.

“Of course of 8,500 CUSECs, Haryana will have 7,000 CUSECs, while 1,000 CUSECs will go to Delhi and 500 Cusecs and Rajasthan,” the petitioner said.

However, Punjab used 4,000 cusecs to allocate a cap to Haryana water and raised an objection note on the BBMB's decision to refuse compliance.

“The petitioner said: “The Punjab immediately stopped every drop of water by sending police forces to the dam area, the Punjab chief minister made a news summary, and the Punjab chief minister made a grand law and order through various provocative statements made by the Punjab leaders.”

“By using the power of illegal means, the state of Punjab has crossed all the limitations of inhumanity, for what they know.

BBMB regulates water distribution from the Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are in a state of cooperation that meet their requirements, including different purposes from Bakra and Table Tennis Dam, including irrigation.