Saturday, March 29, 2025
During the latest hearing in the ongoing Bhakra water dispute case between Punjab and Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court witnessed key developments on May 20. The Union Government, Haryana Government, and Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) filed their official responses in court. However, the Punjab Government requested additional time to submit its reply, a request which the court approved. The next hearing is scheduled for May 22.
Parallel to the legal proceedings, the protest that had been ongoing for the past 20 days in Nangal is expected to conclude today. According to sources, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann may participate in the event marking its conclusion.
BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi submitted an affidavit detailing the recent disruptions caused during a water release operation. On May 8, Tripathi had reached Bhakra Dam to release water, but was allegedly obstructed by local residents and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, who stopped the release and held him against his will. The situation escalated to the point where CM Bhagwant Mann personally intervened at the site.
Mann stated that water would not be released until official directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs were received, following a May 2 meeting led by the Union Home Secretary. BBMB had subsequently approached the High Court for intervention.
In his affidavit, Tripathi alleged that Punjab Police personnel prevented BBMB officials from operating the dam. In response, the court instructed the Punjab Government to identify the police officials who obstructed operations. The Punjab administration has since initiated action in this regard.
During the court proceedings, the Punjab Government highlighted contradictions in Tripathi’s statements. On May 8, he had reportedly admitted in a live court session that he was merely surrounded by local citizens and was assisted by Punjab Police in exiting safely. However, in a later affidavit dated May 9, he claimed to have been unlawfully detained—completely contradicting his earlier testimony.
As a result, the Punjab Government invoked Section 379 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and urged the court to initiate proceedings under Section 215 of BNSS for allegedly filing a false affidavit. Furthermore, Punjab requested contempt of court proceedings against both Tripathi and Sanjeev Kumar, Director (Water Regulation), for allegedly violating the High Court’s May 6 directives.
This contentious legal battle over water distribution rights has reignited inter-state tensions and highlighted critical gaps in coordination between central institutions and state governments. The upcoming hearing on May 22 is expected to determine the legal course moving forward.
