Chandigarh, April 14: The Union government’s decision to broaden the selection pool for key leadership roles within the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has sparked intense political backlash in Punjab. State Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Tuesday described the move to open the positions of Member (Irrigation) and Member (Power) to officers from across the country as a direct assault on the state’s long-standing interests.
Historically, the BBMB has followed a convention where the Member (Power) was drawn from Punjab and the Member (Irrigation) from Haryana. The recent central notification, however, allows engineers from any state to apply, a shift that Bains characterized as a strategic setback for the region.
“This is a gift by the BJP to Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi,” Bains stated in a sharp critique of the timing. He maintained that the Union government must immediately withdraw the decision, asserting that the state would fight to protect its traditional representation.
The controversy is deepened by prolonged vacancies in these critical roles. The post of Member (Irrigation) has remained unfilled since September 2020, while the Member (Power) position has been vacant since September 2022. At present, the responsibilities for power are being managed through additional charges held by internal chief engineers.
Technical experts and engineer associations have voiced similar concerns, arguing that the delays and rule changes violate the spirit of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966. Experts affirmed that because Punjab and Haryana bear the majority of the board’s operational costs, the previous appointment system was essential for ensuring equitable management of water and power resources.
