GUWAHATI: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday, May 6, expressed concern over the escalating water dispute between the two states, drawing a comparison to India's actions against Pakistan and urging restraint within the country.
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The court was hearing a plea by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) against Punjab’s alleged obstruction of water release from the Nangal dam to Haryana. “This is what we are doing to our enemy country. Let us not do this within our States,” remarked Chief Justice Sheel Nagu while presiding over a division bench alongside Justice Sumeet Goel.
The plea was filed after Punjab reportedly deployed additional police forces at the Nangal dam, following BBMB’s decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. BBMB alleged that this act hindered water flow and could lead to overflow of the reservoir while depriving downstream states.
Punjab, in response, argued that law and order falls under the state’s jurisdiction, and BBMB cannot dictate policing matters. Senior advocate Gurminder Singh contended for Punjab that the increase in police deployment was to ensure security and that the BBMB had bypassed proper procedures in issuing its resolution.
In response, the bench questioned the security arrangements at the dam and considered whether central paramilitary forces should be deployed instead. The BBMB maintained that their Director of Security had valid objections and that political interference could not be ruled out.
Haryana Advocate General Pravindra Singh Chauhan further accused Punjab Police of taking operational control of the dam and obstructing the court-mandated water distribution. He said the water was not solely for Haryana but also for Delhi and Rajasthan, and that Punjab’s resistance to BBMB’s expert decision was both illegal and unconstitutional.
The court reserved its order for the time being, but has been expected to pronounce it shortly.
