Lok Sabha Question No. 2062 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Punjab Rights over Sutlej and Beas Rivers
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2062

ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025

## PUNJAB RIGHTS OVER SUTLEJ AND BEAS RIVERS

2062.

SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER:

SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government is aware of the proposed amendment to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) under the Punjab Reorganisation Act that would dilute Punjab's representation by granting equal membership to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan resulting in situations where Punjab is deprived of its rightful saying in planning and operations, if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Union  Government  intends  to  protect  Punjab's  riparian  rights  over  the  Sutlej  and  Beas rivers, given that these waters flow through Punjab and the Board's decisions increasingly put the State in disadvantage and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union Government acknowledges that due to the absence of Punjab officers and reduced decision-making power, Punjab itself suffers record inundation because there is no responsible authority from Punjab in BBMB to regulate, anticipate or control such situations, if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Union  Government  is  aware  that  key  members  and  officers  from  Punjab  have  been removed from the Board, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Union Government has considered a reconstitution or restructuring of BBMB to ensure that Punjab retains control over critical decisions relating to water release and dam operations, if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps being taken by the Union Government to ensure that the Board's governance is reformed in a way that safeguards Punjab's interests, prevents future water 'robbery' and upholds the State's sovereign water rights?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (f) The BBMB is regulating the waters of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers and distribution of water of these rivers among partner states in accordance with Inter-state agreements entered into by partner states. Partner  States  project  the  irrigation  and  domestic  requirements  of  their  respective  States  in  the  monthly Technical Committee meetings (TCM) of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) which is then released by  BBMB from the Reservoirs as per the decision taken in the aforesaid meeting of  BBMB  comprising

Chief Engineers from partner states (Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan), Central Water Commission (CWC), special invitees from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Agriculture department and senior officers from BBMB, etc. The Board's decision is taken and implemented only after obtaining consensus among all the stakeholders or partner states (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh) and Government of India.

As of July 2025, the State of Punjab has a sanctioned share of 4,918 posts in the overall sanctioned strength of BBMB, of which 1,756 have been filled by Punjab. As per the convention, the post of Member (Power) is filled from the Govt. of Punjab.

The BBMB is represented, inter-alia, with Members from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Further, the decisions in the Board are taken unanimously ensuring that the interests of all BBMB partner states, including Punjab, are best protected.

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