HC bars Punjab from interfering with Bhakra Dam operations amid water sharing row with Haryana
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed the Punjab government and its police personnel not to interfere with the functioning and regulation of the Bhakra Nangal Dam, which is under the control of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, reported Live Law.
However, the court said that Punjab was free to provide security to the dam and to personnel of the management board.
The High Court was hearing a petition by the Bhakra Beas Management Board alleging that Punjab Police personnel had forcibly taken control of the dam and the Lohand Control Room Water Regulation Offices to obstruct the release of water to Haryana.
This comes amid a fresh row over river water sharing between Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Haryana and Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party government.
The row began on April 23, when Haryana requested 8,500 cusecs of water (4,500 cusecs more than its regular quota) from the Bhakra Nangal project.
On April 30, the BJP governments in Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi voted in favour of releasing extra water to Haryana during a Bhakra Beas Management Board meeting. Himachal Pradesh, which is ruled by the Congress, abstained from voting.
The Bhakra Beas Management Board told the Supreme Court that it had decided to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, which Punjab opposed. On the morning of...
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