In the ongoing Punjab-Haryana water row GoI appoints Member Irrigation in BBMB
Kanwar Inder singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 27,2025
The department of personnel has given the current duty charge of the member Irrigation , BBMB to BS Nara, Chief Engineer Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for a period of 6 months or till the regular appointment to the post or until further orders.’
The post is lying vacant and the chairman holds the charge of Member Irrigation.
On January 23, 2025, the Governor of Haryana had appointed Rakesh Chuhan, Engineer-in-Chief, Haryana Irrigation department as the Member, Irrigation, against quota post of Haryana in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). But in less than 24 hour, the Haryana govt had withdrawn the orders after Punjab government raised objection on the criteria of appointment.
The supreme body of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is headed by a Whole Time Chairman and two Whole Time Members i.e. Member (Irrigation) and Member (Power) who head the Irrigation and Power Wings of BBMB respectively. Punjab and Haryana are the biggest stakeholders of BBMB with maximum share in irrigation and power benefits. As per long-standing convention for the last 56 years, Member (Power) was always drawn from Punjab, while Member(Irrigation) from Haryana and Chairman appointed from outside of partner states.
