BBMB secy post becomes a bone of contention; Chairman again rejects Punjab’s demand; decision brings expert engineer on crossroads
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 1,2025
In a bizarre incident, due to official apathy one of the region’s learned, expert engineer Dr Harinder Pal Singh Bedi has been brought on the cross road.
On January 24,2025 Punjab government has issued transfer orders of Dr Harinder Pal Singh Bedi to join as secretary, BBMB. But the BBMB management has rejected Punjab government’s request to appoint Bedi as Secretary, BBMB. Punjab government has not withdrawn the transfer orders of Dr Bedi to BBMB, even after the repeated rejection of the Chairman, BBMB.
On February 28,2025 afternoon Dr Bedi relinquished the charge of Chief engineer, Drainage-cum-Mining & Geology, Water Resources Department, Punjab, joins the office of Secretary, BBMB and submitted his joining report to the Chairman BBMB.
In a twist, the Chairman Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) issued the order of Er Surinder Singh Mittal, a Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) cadre officer as secretary, BBMB. Mittal had joined BBMB only few months ago.
After this incident,Dr Bedi seems to stands nowhere as he has already relinquished his charge of Chief Engineer, Drainage-cum-Mining & Geology, Water Resources Department, Punjab to join as secy, BBMB and on the other hand the Chairman BBMB has appointed Er Surinder Singh Mittal as secretary, BBMB, clearly ignoring Punjab government’s request to give this time the charge of this key post to a Punjab cadre officer. The secy, BBMB post was occupied by Satish Singla, another officer of Haryana.
Dr Bedi has done his doctorate in Riparian Laws and has been working on projects that are in the interest of the nation. He even attended the National Security Council (NSC’s) meeting on state’s behalf on how they can utilize the excess water from river Chenab via Ravi and Beas as 10-12 MAF water is thrown in the Arabian Sea by our neighbor country. Punjab has pointed out the possibility of diverting that water to the state of Punjab. Dr Bedi has a vast experience of water management.
Recently he has unearthed a major cyber crime in Punjab govt mining portal, a major scam in the state irrigation department.
In another interesting point, the Haryana government has again extended the term of Satish Singla, the outgoing secretary, BBMB for another year i.e till February 28,2026 and till last moment, it was sure that he will continue as secy, BBMB for another year. But, the chairman’s last minute decision to appoint another person Mittal as Secy has changed the scenario. Now, the fate of Satish Singla is not known. The Haryana government has given him extension and BBMB has not appointed in secretary.
Earlier, the chairman while overstepping the rules and regulations had changed the headquarter of member Power from head office to Bhakra Dam, Nangal, which he is not authorized to do this.
Another senior functionary of the BBMB, on the condition of anonymity said “the chairman can not appoint secretary of the board without the approval of the board members, as it’s a key post. The post can be filled only after the board consisting of 9 members, including two whole time members and representatives of partner states give their approval for the appointment of that person. The Chairman can ask a person to work as secretary with an anticipation to get approval from the board. It’s not necessary the board approves or give their accent to the appointment. “
As per available information, the chairman, BBMB has appointed an executive engineer (XEN) level officer where as mostly the post is held by SE level officer. Mittal is junior to both Bedi and Singla.
On this issue, chairman BBMB Manoj Tripathi said “we have already rejected the joining of Er Harinder Pal Singh Bedi as secretary, BBMB. The same has already been informed to the officers of the state government. Also the board has sent the file of Satish Singla to Haryana government, after taking the legal, finance views.”.
Tripathi added that “the Punjab, Haryana governments send the officers to join the posts at BBMB, whereas the prerogative to appoint anyone on any post lies with the Chairman.”
Meanwhile, principal secretary Punjab water resources department Krishan Kumar, IAS and Administrative Secretary, Mines & Geology, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, IAS could not be contacted despite attempts.
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