P&H High Court bars Punjab from interfering with Bhakra Nangal Dam operations; orders release of water to Haryana

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government and Punjab Police to refrain from interfering in the functioning of Bhakhra Nangal Dam, which is under the operational control of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)..The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel also directed the Punjab government to comply with the recent decision to release additional 4,500 cusecs of water for meeting the emergent needs of Haryana and some parts of Rajasthan."State of Punjab and any of its functionaries, including police personnel, are restrained from interfering in the day-to-day functioning, operation and regulation of the Bhakra Nangal Dam and Lohand control Room water Regulation offices managed by BBMB," the Court ordered..The Court passed the direction on a petition moved by the BBMB which alleged that Punjab Police had forcibly taken over operational control of the dam after a recent decision for the release of 8,500 cusecs water to Haryana and other States.The matter was heard yesterday in detail. During the hearing, the Court took exception to the alleged conduct of the State of Punjab and observed, "We are doing this to our enemy country. Let us not do this within our States.".In the order released today, the Court noted concerns that the deployment of forces by the State of Punjab at the Bhakra Dam was allegedly obstructing the functioning and working of BBMB. "If this allegation of the BBMB is correct, then the deployment of police force for interfering in the management and functioning of the BBMB cannot be appreciated. The Punjab Police is always free to provide adequate security to the Bhakra Beas Management Board and its personnel but cannot interfere in the day to day functioning of the BBMB so as to obstruct the operation and management of the Bhakra Dam and water related works," the Court ordered..Further, the Court ordered the Punjab government to comply with the recent decision taken in a meeting under the Chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary for the release of an extra 4,500 cusecs of water from BBMB dams to Haryana and Rajasthan."State of Punjab is directed to abide by decision of the meeting held on 02.05.2025 under the Chairmanship of the Home Secretary to the Government of India."It added that if the Punjab government is not agreeable to any decision taken by the BBMB, then it is free to make a representation to the Central Government in accordance with the Bhakra Beas Management Board Rules."In the conspectus of the above discussion and the law which clearly provides for an alternative statutory remedy available to dissenting State to represent to the Central Government for resolving the water dispute, the State of Punjab in all fairness ought to have represented before the Central Government. No such representation has been made by the State of Punjab," the Court observed..The Court clarified that should the Punjab government now make such a representation, the Central government shall expeditiously take a decision on it. Meanwhile, the Court also said the Central government can take a call on the BBMB's suggestion for the deployment of paramilitary forces at the dam to prevent recurrence of any similar situation..Senior Advocate Rajesh Garg with advocates Neha Matharoo, Mandeep Singh and RK Narwal represented BBMBSenior Advocate Gurminder Singh with Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi, Additional Advocate General Maninder Singh and Advocate Jatinder Singh Gill represented the State of Punjab.Advocate General Pravindra Singh Chauhan with Additional Advocates General Deepak Balyan and Naveen S.Bhardwaj represented the State of Haryana.Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain with Senior Panel Counsel Dheeraj Jain appeared for the Union of India.Advocates R Kartikeya, RS Dhull, Akanksha, Sidhi Bansal, Ridhi Bansal and Kartik Patial appeared in two related Public Interest Litigations..[Read Judgment]