Water Released From Bhakra Nangal Dam Is Lifeline Of Haryana Farmers: State Tells High Court Amid Dispute With Punjab Govt

The Centre, Haryana Government and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) have filed their responses on Punjab Government's application seeking recalling of Court's May 06 order, which paved way for release of 'extra water' from Bhakra Nangal Dam to Haryana.

A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel granted one day time to the Punjab Government to respond to the averments made in their reply.

During the hearing senior counsel Gurminder Singh appearing along with Additional AG Chanchal Singla for the Punjab Government objected to the response filed by the parties and said the replies are misleading and far from the truth.

In its response, the Haryana Government has submitted that "the matter of equitable distribution of water amongst the partner States is a matter of lifeline of a particular State and no one State can forcibly enforce its unilateral and whimsical decision through the use of force. Water as released by the BBMB is the lifeline of the farmers of Haryana and the livelihood of the farmers depends on the water."

"Despite the clear order passed by this Hon'ble Court on 6.5.2025, deploying the police force at Bhakra-Nangal Dam and forcibly taking over the operation and regulation thereof shows the defiant and obstructive attitude of the State of Punjab..."it added.

The reply also highlighted that a decree was passed by the High Court way back in the year 2002 directing the Punjab Government to complete the construction of SYL (Satluj-Yamuna Link) canal in its territory has not yet been complied with by the State of Punjab. Especially after the dismissal of its review petition vide order dated 04.06.2004, wherein the court had deprecated the conduct of the State of Punjab.

The Haryana Government stated in the reply that, "the dispute in the present case is not about the sharing of the water, the dispute is rather about the management, regulation and release of water which always done by an expert body, in the present case the said expert body is BBMB, since the BBMB is exercising its expertise has passed resolution and all the partner states are supposed to follow the same."

Union Government's Stand

The Union Government's response filed through Ministry of Power submitted that "as BBMB has already taken a decision by maiority in the BBMB Board meeting held on 30.04.2025 to release water to Harvana in accordance with BBMB Rules, 1974, therefore, no action is warranted at this juncture by the Central Government under Rule-7 of BBMB Rules, 1974."

It also highlighted that normally the Bhakra Reservoir Level on 20th May of the year are targeted not to go below 1506 ft. to keep some cushion for delayed monsoon. Therefore, considering availability of water in Bhakra Dam, water may be supplied to the partner states of BBMB depending on their requirements.

"Further, as decided in the Board meeting held on 03.05.2025, the Technical Committee constituted for the purpose for deciding water releases from the dam will provide this excess water to Punjab during the filling period of Dams to fulfil their any additional requirements. Hence, BBMB may take further decision in this regard in the next CM and Board meeting," it added.

Bhakra Beas Management Board's Stand

The BBMB stated that in case there was any infirmity in the judgment passed on May 06, the application could have been filed by the Punjab Government immediately after the judgment and not after the direction issued by the Court.

It added further that even if it is assumed, that direction to abide by Board's meeting decision to release extra water to Punjab, is recalled by the High Court, the main prayer granted by the Court regarding non-interference in functioning of the Dam by officials of the State of Punjab, still stands and so do the contempt proceedings arising therefrom.

The Board further highlighted that it is now contended by the Punjab Government that the need for seeking additional water by the state of Haryana no longer exists. "It is abundantly clear that non-compliance of orders of this Hon'ble Court was a deliberate attempt to buy time to deny a particular State its share of water, for which the Board Officials were prevented  operating the dam apparatus."

Punjab Government was represented by Ad AG Chanchal Singla and Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh.

Haryana Government was represented by AG Pravindra Singh Chauhan and Ad AG Deepak Balyan

Union Government was represented by ASG Satya Pal Jain along with Sr. Panel Counsel Dheeraj Jain

Background

"This Court is conscious of the present sensitive atmosphere prevailing in the State of Punjab due to cross border firing between India and Pakistan and therefore, does not want to burden the Chief Secretary as well as the Director General of Police, Government of Punjab, with any contempt notice," High Court had said earlier while granting time to Punjab Government to respond to Punjab-Haryana Water dispute contempt plea.

The Court had then directed Tripathi to file his statement on affidavit. The Court had further directed that Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain to produce the relevant minutes of the meeting dated May 2, where it was decided to release 4500 cusecs extra water to Haryana in 8 days, for meeting emergent needs of the State.

The development comes in a contempt petition moved by a Gram Panchayat, alleging that the irrespective of the High Court order asking the Punjab Police not to interfere with the day-to-day activities of the Board, the agency restrained the BBMB officers from discharging their duties.

Case Title: Bhakra Beas Management Board v. Versus State of Punjab and others