The Punjab-Haryana water dispute has escalated sharply, prompting Punjab to adopt a defiant posture against the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Dam Safety Act, 2021, in a heated special session of the state legislative assembly held on Monday. The Punjab government has accused both the BBMB and the Haryana administration of overstepping legal boundaries to divert Punjab’s rightful water share.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema lashed out at the BJP-led Haryana government, alleging a systematic attempt to deprive Punjab of its water allocation. “The Haryana government and the BJP are trying to steal Punjab's share of water,” Cheema said, asserting that the Dam Safety Act was an unjustified intrusion into Punjab’s jurisdiction. “We have officially requested the central government to repeal the Dam Safety Act 2021,” he added, making it clear that Punjab would resist any attempt to bypass its rights.

BBMB accused of illegal conduct and partiality

Punjab’s Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal introduced a resolution condemning BBMB's recent decision to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, calling the move “illegal” and “unconstitutional.” Goyal declared that Punjab had already offered 4,000 cusecs of water on humanitarian grounds, but that no further concessions would be made. The resolution asserted that BBMB had acted as a puppet of the BJP, accusing it of holding late-night meetings with minimal notice to push through anti-Punjab decisions.

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the resolution, stating emphatically that “not a single drop of extra water” would be released beyond the allocated share. The resolution also reiterated Punjab’s rejection of the Dam Safety Act, which it sees as violating the state’s autonomy and federal principles.

Bhagwant Mann: Haryana mismanaged water allocation

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann backed the Assembly’s move, stating that Haryana had exhausted its share of Bhakra water by March 31, 2025, and was now seeking additional supply due to mismanagement. “Despite their lapse, we are still supplying them with drinking water until May 20,” said Mann, adding that Haryana will have to bear the consequences for 15 days due to its administrative negligence.

Mann also took aim at the BBMB's functioning, describing it as “dictatorial” and calling for its complete reconstitution. According to him, Punjab is financially burdened by BBMB operations, yet excluded from key decision-making processes. “They notify emergency meetings with just 3 to 4 hours' notice, in violation of all protocol. Even emergency meetings require a minimum week's notice,” Mann stressed.

Historical context and legal challenges

The water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana has been a recurring issue since Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966. Although inter-state agreements and tribunal rulings have tried to resolve the conflict, political and administrative tensions persist, particularly concerning the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and Bhakra-Beas water allocations.

The BBMB, constituted under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, is responsible for regulating the supply of water and power generated by the Bhakra Nangal and Beas projects. However, Punjab leaders argue that the board has deviated from its original mandate and has increasingly become politicized.

Dam Safety Act under fire

A central point of contention is the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which Punjab claims intrudes into its legislative competence. The Act, intended to ensure the structural integrity and operational safety of dams across India, grants oversight powers to a National Committee on Dam Safety. However, Punjab argues that dam safety and water resource management fall under the state's jurisdiction, and that the Act undermines federalism.

Critics of the Act within Punjab assert that it could be misused to enforce water-sharing decisions under the guise of dam safety, particularly by favoring states aligned with the ruling party at the Centre.

Political overtones and Haryana’s response

The water dispute has taken on a distinctly political hue, with Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government accusing the BJP-led Centre and Haryana of colluding against the state. On the other hand, Haryana’s Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has urged Punjab to “avoid petty politics” and approach the issue rationally and legally. Saini emphasized that water issues should be governed by constitutional mechanisms and scientific data, not political rhetoric.

However, Punjab's leaders insist that central agencies and institutions like BBMB have been weaponized against the state. The repeated exclusion of Punjab’s representatives from decision-making forums and the lack of timely notifications for emergency meetings have further fueled suspicions.

Nationwide implications and future scenarios

The row between Punjab and Haryana extends beyond mere inter-state rivalry. Punjab argues that the dispute has national implications, given the state’s critical role as India’s breadbasket. As Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan stated, “This is not only about Punjab’s rights, but about the entire country. Without water, we can’t produce wheat and grains to feed India.”

Legal experts suggest that the matter could soon be brought before the Supreme Court or inter-state water dispute tribunals, especially if Punjab moves forward with formal challenges to the Dam Safety Act or the BBMB’s legal status. A prolonged deadlock could impact agricultural productivity, water availability, and inter-state cooperation across northern India.

Conclusion

The Punjab Assembly’s strong stance against the BBMB and the Dam Safety Act reflects deeper tensions surrounding federalism, resource allocation, and political control. As the region prepares for peak summer water demand, the unfolding situation calls for judicious intervention from the central government, ideally through dialogue, legal arbitration, and cooperative federalism rather than confrontation.

If unresolved, the Punjab-Haryana water dispute risks snowballing into a larger crisis, not just of governance and politics, but of agricultural sustainability and interstate trust.

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