Chandigarh, May 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
During a meeting organised in Panchkula on the completion of 50 years of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal strongly and firmly presented Punjab’s concerns, interests and rights before the Central Government.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Cabinet Minister said that he raised Punjab’s concerns in the meeting with utmost humility and respect, but also made it clear that Punjab will not allow any encroachment on its rights.
Expressing his first and foremost concern during the meeting, Minister Barinder Goyal said that since the establishment of BBMB, there has been a system under which the Power (Electricity) Member is appointed from Punjab and the Irrigation Member from Haryana.
This has been an established tradition for the last 50 years. However, on April 13, the Central Government amended the rules and introduced a provision stating that the member can now be from anywhere, while Punjab and Haryana would only be given preference.
He questioned that when this arrangement had been functioning smoothly for decades without any complaint, what was the need for this change? The word ‘preference’ creates serious concern in the minds of Punjabis, therefore the decades-old traditional structure should be continued as it is.
Strongly opposing the Centre’s stand on the security issue, he objected to the deployment of CISF. He said that Punjab Police is a highly capable and globally respected force, which made immense sacrifices, along with their families, for the integrity of the nation during the period of terrorism.
The security of our dams has always been handled by Punjab Police from the very beginning. Even today, the security of Ranjit Sagar Dam and Shahpur Kandi Dam, located near the border, is being managed by Punjab Police.
In such a situation, what is the logic behind deploying CISF in BBMB complexes? When no partner state had any objection to the security arrangements by Punjab Police, then such interference by the Central Government goes against the spirit of federalism.
Referring to Punjab’s generosity on the issue of water, the Cabinet Minister said that Punjab has never backed away from its responsibilities. Even at the cost of losing its precious groundwater, the state has been happily providing every partner state with its rightful share of water.
He strongly stated that since the rivers flow through Punjab, Punjab maintains them and Punjab alone bears the losses during floods, therefore Punjab should get priority in decisions related to storing and managing water in the dams. Punjab must be given its due place in every important decision of BBMB because the primary responsibility of managing the water lies with Punjab.
Expressing surprise over Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s statement alleging some ‘lapse’ on Punjab’s part as the reason for deploying CISF, Barinder Goyal said that Punjab has committed no lapse; rather, Punjab has only guarded its rights.
He clarified that under the fixed arrangement of water distribution, Haryana had already used up its share of water in the month of March itself last year, and thereafter it wanted to take Punjab’s share of water, which Punjab opposed. Haryana had been repeatedly advised to use water carefully, but it failed to pay attention to it.
Minister Goyal said that when all partner states are working together in a coordinated and better manner, the Central Government should avoid such unnecessary interference. He made it clear that he has always appreciated every justified and correct decision taken by BBMB, and Punjab is prepared to continue working together in the future as well.
However, if the Central Government thinks that anti-Punjab or wrong decisions can be imposed by deploying security forces, then Punjab will never accept any such wrong decision at any cost.
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