Punjab’s Refusal to Release Water to Haryana, BBMB Dispute, and Delhi Elections as Causes of Punjab’s Misfortune Sources: (Indian Express, Times of India).
SNPNEWS.IN (September 4, 2025): The regions of Majha, Doaba, and Malwa in Punjab are reeling under severe floods. The Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers have engulfed over 1,000 villages in Majha and Doaba, destroying crops across 3.5 lakh acres, causing damages worth thousands of crores to government and private property, and leading to over three dozen suspected deaths. Both the ruling party and the central government are blaming each other for the tragedy. However, an Indian Express report suggests that Punjab’s devastation is partly linked to the April 2025 dispute between the Punjab government and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), as well as the distraction caused by the Delhi elections.
Political Ambition and Neglect Drown Punjab:
According to the Indian Express article “Punjab Floods,” BBMB held meetings in February and March 2025 to prepare for flood control, considering the 2023 floods and the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) warning of heavy rainfall this year. However, during February, the Punjab ruling party was preoccupied with the Delhi elections, resulting in no meetings being held. The article claims the government ignored IMD’s heavy rain warnings. When a meeting finally took place in June, the state had little time left to prepare.
The Indian Express, citing AAP MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal, highlighted the failure to remove silt from rivers and canals. Seechewal noted that the Harike Headworks was never desilted from many years. Silt reducing its capacity to hold water and contributing to flood-like conditions. Similarly, the Madhopur Headworks suffered significant damage, exposing administrative lapses.
Former Chief Engineer Amrjit Singh Dullet told the Indian Express that instead of relying on its structural engineers, the government paid ₹23 lakh to a private company for a report, with disastrous results.
Despite ₹117 crore being allocated, no substantial groundwork was visible. No work was done on the Ghaggar river, and the Pong Dam, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi were left to fate. Dullet described this as ignorance, not mere negligence, but with the same devastating outcome.
The Punjab government has blamed BBMB for releasing water from dams, though Ranjit Sagar and Pong Dams are under state control. The article suggests that controlled water releases from these dams could have reduced damage by at least 50%.
BBMB Dispute and Punjab Haryana Water Conflict:
Hindustan Times, in its article (Heavy Rain Validates BBMB’s Call That Sparked Punjab-Haryana Water Dispute), reported that a conflict arose in April 2025 when Punjab opposed BBMB’s decision to release additional water to Haryana. Punjab took control of BBMB operations and deployed police, escalating the matter to the High Court, where Punjab received no relief.
A senior BBMB official, speaking anonymously to the Times of India (ToI), revealed that an April meeting acknowledged the need to manage water flow to maintain sufficient dam storage. Despite recommendations, water releases were restricted.
The BBMB Chairman informed the April 23 meeting that IMD’s April 15 forecast predicted a prolonged monsoon with 105% above-average rainfall. Controlled water release was critical to reduce reservoir levels and protect dam integrity, especially given IMD’s heavy inflow predictions.
Haryana requested an additional 4,500 cusecs of water for emergency needs, which Punjab’s Chief Engineer (Canals) strongly opposed, arguing that Haryana should not receive more than its allocated quota.
Based on technical requirements and the rule curve, reservoir levels needed to be lowered. Haryana and Rajasthan agreed, but Punjab did not. The committee approved water releases from BBMB dams between April 24 and May 20 to create space for monsoon inflows, prioritizing dam/Public safety.
Punjab Government’s Response: Punjab’s Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal rejected these allegations, stating that ₹117 crore was re-released and repair work completed. He said, “The rainfall was unprecedented. Meetings were held on time; floods began in August. No breaches occurred in embankments; they overflowed due to excessive water. On the Madhopur issue, we’ve issued a show-cause notice to the concerned company.”