• Source:JND
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The Punjab government on Thursday ramped up security at the Nangal dam regulator soon after the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) directed the release of an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. The precautionary move was taken amid growing tensions over water sharing, with officials citing fears of law and order issues in Punjab, which is already facing water scarcity.

During a BBMB meeting on Wednesday with Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, Punjab formally dissented, claiming it had no water to spare. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticised the order and alleged political pressure from the Centre and Haryana’s BJP government. He reiterated that Punjab would not tolerate what he described as another "robbery" of its rightful resources.

Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains, along with supporters, staged a protest at Nangal Dam on Thursday to block water flow to Haryana. The minister said Punjab's agriculture depended on its rightful share of water and credited CM Bhagwant Mann for improving irrigation over the past five years. We are sitting on Nangal Dam and have taken control of the regulatory room to prevent water from going into Haryana," he said.

Later in the day, CM Bhagwant Mann visited the site and he also objected to BBMB’s directive to release over 8,500 cusecs to Haryana, claiming the neighbouring state was demanding more than its due share.

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Punjab-Haryana Water Dispute 

Haryana demanded 8,500 cusecs of water earlier this week, citing acute shortages even for domestic use. While BBMB approved the release, Punjab pointed out that Haryana had already used over 100 per cent of its allocated share, 3.110 MAF against 2.987 MAF. CM Bhagwant Mann accused BBMB of yielding to political pressure and warned of agricultural consequences for Punjab if water was diverted. 

Why Punjab Says It Cannot Spare Water 

Punjab claims it is facing a severe water shortage due to reduced inflow from Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams, both affected by deficient rainfall and low snowfall in Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, the Pong dam is undergoing maintenance, further limiting water availability. Although Bhakra dam currently holds slightly more water than average, Punjab says it needs the reserves to sustain paddy cultivation till the monsoon’s arrival in late June.

Haryana Warns Of Repercussions

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini insisted that timely release of water was necessary to avoid overflow into eastern rivers during the monsoon, which could send excess water into Pakistan. He highlighted that a shortfall in water supply could severely affect districts like Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad.

BBMB Water-Sharing Mechanism

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), created after Punjab's reorganisation in 1966 and renamed in 1976, oversees water distribution from the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers. Water is allocated to states during two cycles annually,  the depletion period (Sept 21–May 20) and the filling period (May 21–Sept 20).

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With depleting groundwater, Punjab has invested over Rs 4,000 crore to revive canals, increasing canal water usage by 12–13 per cent in the depletion period. Officials warn that releasing more water to Haryana could jeopardise paddy transplantation in critical districts like Gurdaspur and Amritsar after June 10. 

Unless Punjab and Haryana reach a mutual resolution, the Union Ministry of Power may issue directives. If unresolved, the issue could head for legal intervention.