Gurugram: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday postponed the Punjab review petition against its first order of additional water supply from Bhakra Dam to Haryana, which was started by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, as the fresh supply cycle of that day begins anyway.
The Chief Minister of Pandab said at an event in Ludhiana, “The adjournment of the case means 20 May that we have emerged as the winners. We (Haryana) did not give him a single drop of additional water. We fought in courts, stood with state rights.”
The Punjab government’s petition challenged the court’s order to direct Haryana to direct the release of additional water, which is amid a growing dispute over the water-sharing by the Beas Management Board (BBMB).
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Mana posted videos of his speech for X on Wednesday, during the inauguration of some development projects in Ludhiana.
“I was about to come to the inauguration when I was informed that the BBMB people were about to open the doors to release additional water for Haryana. Therefore, I first decided to go towards Nangal. I went there and stopped them from releasing water. Today, our case was heard in the High Court. It is now postponed on May 20.”
Then, with a affection on his face, and by applause by the audience, he said, “On the night of May 20 and 21, we will water them anyway.”
A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumit Goel issued notices to the Central Government, Haryana Government and BBMB, who seek their response to Punjab’s petition till 20 May.
Punjab has requested to cancel or amend the May 6 order, alleging that BBMB hidden important facts to secure the decision. Punjab also mentioned a meeting chaired by the Home Secretary of the Union, arguing that it lacks procedural validity.
Citing Rule 7 of the BBMB Rule 1974, Punjab said that any policy decision affecting the state’s rights should be sent to the Central Government for a decision.
Punjab argued that it had already taken the matter to the center, but did not get any response, yet BBMB proceeded with a meeting on 30 April – without the reproduction of the Punjab – and decided to release additional water to Haryana.
The water-sharing dispute arose again on 23 April, when Haryana demanded 8,500 cusecs of water from the Bhak-Nangal project, 4,500 cusecs higher than the current allocation of 4,000 cusecs.
Punjab refused, arguing Haryana had already allotted 103 per cent of its annual share-3.110 million acre-feet (MAF) for its allocated 2.987 MAF water year (September to August).
For the current year, BBMB allocated 5.512 maf to Punjab, 2.987 maf to Haryana, and 3.318 mAF to Rajasthan. Punjab insisted on the lack of its own water, especially with the lack of ground water, and the need for canal water for the upcoming paddy sowing season.
Despite this, a BBMB Technical Committee, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi attended a meeting on 30 April, bypassing the dissatisfaction of Punjab, voting for Haryana to release additional water.
Tension erupted on 1 May when Punjab deployed police to Nangal Dam at a distance of 13 km, so that to prevent water release, BBMB was motivated to move the High Court. The court 6 ordered Punjab to intervene in BBMB operations and directed Haryana to release 8,500 cusecs, including 500 cusecs for Rajasthan and 496 cusecs for Delhi.
However, on 8 May, BBMB President Manoj Tripathi faced resistance when he arrived at the dam to oversee the release of water. Local residents and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders protested, allegedly detained Tripathi at a guest house for more than two hours. Tripathi later filed an affidavit, claiming that the Punjab Police disrupted the BBMB officials, who could have issued only 299 cusecs before being stopped.
Mann, who reached the scene, announced that the official decision of the Center was not made public from the May 2 meeting. Mann has consistently accused the BJP -led Center and Haryana of reducing Punjab’s water rights.
BBMB manages water distribution from Sutlej and Beas Rivers, the Bhakra Dam usually starts around May 21 with the filling season and lasts till September 20, when the monsoon rain fills the reservoir again. The cheap season begins on 21 September and continues till 20 May. Each state shares for decreasing and filling season are defined from their total respective shares.
With the filling season starting from May 21, Haryana will be entitled to get its fixed part from midnight, 20 May, on which the Punjab and Haryana High Court will resume the hearing in the case.
(Edited by Ajit Tiwari)