Water-sharing row: Plea filed in HC against deployment of Punjab Police at Bhakra headworks

Fresh row over water sharing between Punjab and Haryana as Punjab refuses to release allocated water to Haryana.

A petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday (May 3, 2025) against the alleged deployment of Punjab Police at the Bhakra headworks, claiming it was obstructing the release of water to Haryana.

The development came as a fresh row erupted over water sharing between Punjab and Haryana.

The AAP-ruled Punjab has refused to release more water to BJP-ruled Haryana, claiming that the neighbouring state has "already used 103% of the allocated water by March".

According to the petition filed by advocate Ravinder Singh Dhull, the Punjab government has "illegally deployed" cops at the BBMB Bhakra headworks and Lohand Khud escape channel while flouting all constitutional duties.

The regulator gates at Bhakra headworks from where the water flow has to be increased for Haryana and Lohand Khud escape channel are now under the control of Punjab police, said the petitioner.

If the police do not permit the regulator gates at Bhakra headworks to be operated and allow water to flow through Lohand Khud escape channel to Harike, the allocation of 8,500 cusecs to Haryana cannot be achieved.

The petitioner claimed Punjab has no legal right to stop access to water by putting police force and violating the fundamental right under Article 21 for the residents of Haryana.