New Delhi, May 2: Despite Punjab’s protest, the Central government has instructed the Punjab Government to implement the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) decision to release an additional 4,500 cusecs of water per day from the Bhakra Dam to Haryana over the next eight days, following urgent water scarcity concerns raised by the state.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, which brought together top officials from the four BBMB partner states—Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan—as well as BBMB representatives.
According to official sources, the decision streamlines Haryana’s immediate water needs.
“The release will continue for eight days to ensure critical water supply is maintained,” a senior official confirmed after the meeting.
In response to Punjab’s earlier refusal to release water, the Centre stepped in to mediate. The deadlock had created rising tension between the two states, necessitating central intervention.
Officials said that the BBMB will now convene a board meeting to finalise operational modalities for the water release.
It was also agreed that Punjab would be supplied with excess water during the dam-filling period to meet any additional requirements it may have, a move intended to balance interests among partner states while ensuring cooperation.
Read more: Punjab United: No Extra Bhakra Water for Haryana, Say All Parties
