In a crucial development in the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday heard a review petition filed by the AAP-led Punjab government. During the proceedings, the court issued notices to the Central Government, the state of Haryana, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for May 20.
Meanwhile, the BBMB is planning to hold a key meeting where engineers from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan will take part. The main aim of the meeting is to formulate a water release strategy for the peak summer months of May and June.
Tension over water sharing has been escalating over the past several days. On 8 May, chairman of the BBMB Manoj Tripathi visited Bhakra Dam to facilitate water release. However, local residents and members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reportedly prevented the attempt to release water. The situation escalated as Tripathi was allegedly held hostage, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to intervene directly. The Chief Minister declared that no water would be released until official orders from the May 2 meeting, which was led by the Union Home Secretary, were provided.
Following the incident, the BBMB filed a formal petition regarding the incident. In an affidavit, chairman of the BBMB Tripathi accused the Punjab Police of interfering in dam’s operations and obstructing the functioning of the BBMB officials. The High Court has since directed the Punjab Government to identify the police personnel involved in the alleged obstruction. The state government has taken subsequent action in this regard.
However, during the hearing, a Punjab Government spokesperson informed the court that during live proceedings on May 8, Tripathi had stated he was surrounded only by local residents and acknowledged assistance from the Punjab Police in exiting the site safely. Yet, in a separate affidavit submitted the following day, Tripathi claimed he had been held in illegal custody — a statement contradicting his earlier court declaration.
In response, the Punjab Government has invoked Section 379 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, requesting that the High Court initiate proceedings under Section 215 of the BNSS for allegedly submitting a false affidavit.
Further, the Punjab Government has urged the court to initiate contempt proceedings against BBMB chairman Tripathi and Sanjeev Kumar, director (Water Regulation), for purportedly violating the court’s order dated May 6.
The case continues to evolve, with all eyes now on the next hearing and the upcoming BBMB meeting, which will be critical in determining the course of water management in the region during the peak summer season.
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