Punjab Ready to Release Funds to BBMB if Accounts Are Shared: Minister Goyal

• May 15, 2025

Nangal, Punjab – Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Wednesday stated that the state government is willing to release its share of funds to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)—but only if the board provides transparency regarding its expenditure.

Speaking to The Tribune during a protest held by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers in Nangal against the BBMB’s recent decision to release additional water to Haryana, Goyal addressed recent allegations by the BBMB Employees’ Union. The union had accused the Punjab government of withholding its financial contributions to the board since January.

In response, Goyal clarified that Punjab contributes approximately 60 percent of the BBMB’s total budget. However, he alleged that the board has consistently refused to disclose how these funds are being utilized, despite repeated requests from the state government.

“We are ready to contribute our share to the BBMB budget, but the board must be transparent about where the money is being spent,” Goyal said. He went on to accuse certain BBMB officials of “misusing funds provided by the partner states.”

The BBMB is jointly managed by four partner states—Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. While Goyal raised concerns about financial mismanagement, he did not specify which of the partner states he believed were involved or impacted.

The protest at Nangal is part of a larger standoff between the Punjab government and BBMB over water allocation and governance issues. The demand for financial transparency is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing dispute.