Haryana man’s appointment as BBMB chief flayed
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 14
Furious over the handing over charge of the Chairman of the Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to a Haryana engineer, the Punjab government has lodged a strong protest against it with the Centre and urged it to undo it.

Following retirement of BBMB Chairman UC Misra on July 31, the charge of the post has been given to MK Gupta, who represents Haryana as a member (Irrigation) in the BBMB. However, the matter came to the notice of the state government today.

Now, the Haryana man holds charge of the Chairman as well as member (Irrigation) of the BBMB. Both are considered most important slots in the BBMB. In fact, another important slot of secretary, BBMB, has also been with another Haryana man. On July 10, HK Gupta had been appointed secretary of the BBMB. Earlier, HK Gupta had been superintending engineer in the Haryana Irrigation Department. In a way, Haryana has established its full control over the BBMB, courtesy the union government. VS Bassi, member (Power) represents Punjab in the BBMB at present.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said he had taken up the matter with the union government and would find out how it happened. Talking to The Tribune on the phone, the CM said, “I was told of this development today”. Official sources said the file about the appointment was sent late to Punjab. When the file came to a senior officer of the state government, he immediately informed Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon about the issue. Sekhon further informed the CM.

A senior officer of the Punjab government said the state would not deal with the BBMB in any official manner till the charge of the Chairman was taken back from the Haryana man by the union government.The chairman of the BBMB has always been appointed from outside Punjab and Haryana in view of the ongoing disputes between both states over the distribution and sharing of river waters.