BBMB chairman illegally released 200 cusecs of water to Haryana, alleges Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who visited Nangal on Thursday, accused the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) chairman of illegally releasing 200 cusecs of water to Haryana, despite heightened national tensions and emergency-like conditions following recent India-Pakistan developments.

Addressing AAP workers outside the BBMB’s Sutlej Sadan rest house, Mann alleged that the BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi personally supervised the release of water at the Nangal Dam earlier in the day. “This is an irresponsible act at a time when the country is on high alert. If unrest breaks out in Punjab over this issue, the BBMB chairman will be held accountable,” the Chief Minister said.

Mann asserted that Haryana had already consumed its allocated water share from Bhakra up to March 31, 2025, for the current quarter. As per schedule, Haryana is entitled to additional water only after May 20, he said. “Neither the Central Government, Punjab Government, nor the High Court has directed BBMB to release extra water to Haryana. The advisory issued during the May 2 meeting only suggested release of 4,500 cusecs,” he added.

He further stated that Punjab does not have surplus water and cannot afford to release more when several of its villages are suffering from shortages in irrigation and drinking water. “We have already provided additional water to Haryana for drinking purposes on humanitarian grounds,” he said.

Mann also reignited the SYL Canal debate, saying, “The SYL Canal should be converted to YSL Canal, and Yamuna water should be diverted to the Sutlej instead.”

Earlier in the day, AAP workers led by Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains locked the gates of the Sutlej Sadan rest house with BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi inside.

Bains said AAP workers stopped the BBMB chairman from releasing water to Haryana without Punjab’s consent. He added that a case would be registered against the chairman.

The situation escalated when AAP workers gheraoed the BBMB chairman first at Nangal Dam, prompting him to retreat to the Sutlej Sadan rest house. Protesters followed and surrounded the premises, where Tripathi remained locked inside for nearly three hours.

At around 1 pm, Punjab Police escorted the BBMB chairman out of the rest house amid heavy sloganeering by AAP workers. Tripathi did not respond to media questions.

CM Mann later instructed the AAP workers to maintain a constant vigil at the Nangal Dam, alleging that BBMB is functioning as a ‘white elephant’ and acting on the instructions of the BJP-led Central Government.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Varinder Goel alleged that the meeting in which BBMB decided to release extra water to Haryana was illegal. According to BBMB bylaws, an emergency meeting requires at least seven days’ notice to be given to partner states. However, the BBMB conducted the meeting with just four days’ notice.

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