Watch: Explained | What is the Punjab-Haryana water-sharing dispute all about?

Watch: Explained | What is the Punjab-Haryana water-sharing dispute all about?

Haryana and Punjab are at odds again over the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s decision to release an extra 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana.

The two States have been in a long-standing dispute over the Ravi-Beas water since Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966. On Monday, Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, convened a special Assembly session, passing a resolution to retain every drop of water from its share.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) regulates water from the Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams for Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh.

On April 23, its committee decided to release 8,500 cusecs—7,000 to Haryana, 1,000 to Delhi, and 500 to Rajasthan. Punjab opposed the move, arguing that Haryana had already exceeded its annual allocation and capped its flow at 4,000 cusecs. Punjab’s refusal has reignited long-standing tensions over riparian rights.

Haryana insists BBMB decisions are binding, and Punjab’s cap violates water-sharing agreements. Punjab counters that Haryana’s overdraw threatens its pre-monsoon supply and breaches equitable use under the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act.