CM Bhagwant Mann Accuses Centre of Bias in BBMB Appointments, Demands Reconstitution
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday accused the central government of discriminating against the state by appointing officers from outside Punjab to posts meant for the state in the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB). He called the move an act of “high-handedness” and reiterated Punjab’s demand for a reconstitution of the board.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event honoring the state's top-performing students, Mann termed the Centre’s decisions “unwarranted and undesirable.” He strongly criticized the practice of appointing officers from other states in violation of Punjab’s designated quota.
The Chief Minister pointed out that Punjab contributes 60% of the BBMB’s budget, while Rajasthan and Haryana together contribute only 40%. Despite this disparity, he said, all three states have equal say in the board’s decisions. Mann argued that voting rights and decision-making power in the BBMB should be proportionate to each state's financial contribution.
Reaffirming Punjab’s long-standing position on water sharing, Mann emphasized that the state has no surplus water to offer. He warned that any decision undermining Punjab’s interests, particularly on sensitive issues like water distribution, would not be tolerated.
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