BBMB Director Transferred Amid Escalating Punjab-Haryana Water Dispute

The water conflict between Punjab and Haryana has intensified following a controversial transfer of Director of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the body responsible for regulating water distribution between the two states.

The Central Government has removed Akashdeep Singh, who held the position of Director (Water Regulation) under Punjab's quota, and replaced him with Sanjeev Kumar, a Haryana cadre officer already serving with the BBMB. While the transfer order curiously states the move was made "at Akashdeep Singh's request," the timing has raised eyebrows because of the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Haryana. 

The controversy erupted after the BBMB decided to provide Haryana with its allocated share of water, a decision the Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has flatly rejected. Taking unprecedented measures, Punjab has deployed police forces led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) at the Bhakra Dam to physically prevent water from being released to Haryana. 

"This is not merely an administrative dispute but a question of Punjab's rights over its natural resources," said a senior Punjab government official who requested anonymity. "The sudden transfer of our representative at BBMB confirms our suspicions that there's pressure to favor Haryana at Punjab's expense."

The standoff has created a severe water crisis in over eight Haryana districts, including Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Hisar, Rohtak, and Mahendragarh. According to Haryana officials, Punjab has unilaterally reduced water supply from approximately 9,000 cusecs to just 4,000 cusecs, crippling agricultural operations and threatening drinking water supplies.

"Farmers are the worst affected as the summer crop planting season is underway," said a farmer leader from Jind. "This political game is being played at the cost of our livelihoods."

Water resources experts believe the Director's transfer is a strategic move to restore Haryana's water allocation, but Punjab's aggressive stance—including the deployment of police forces—indicates the dispute may worsen in coming days. The Mann government has also formally protested the director's replacement, viewing it as an attempt to undermine Punjab's position.

Haryana Water Resources Minister Devender Singh Babli expressed frustration over Punjab's actions: "This is in direct violation of interstate water sharing agreements and Supreme Court directives. Haryana has legitimate rights to this water, and Punjab cannot unilaterally decide to cut our supply." 

Legal experts suggest that while states manage the day-to-day water distribution, the Central Government has the authority to intervene in such disputes.