The Centre has directed the Punjab Government to release an additional 4,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Dam to Haryana for the next eight days to address urgent water needs. This directive was issued following a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, which included top officials from the four partner states of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB): Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Representatives from the BBMB were also present at the meeting.

The decision comes after Punjab had repeatedly refused to release water to Haryana, leading to the Centre’s intervention to ensure a fair water distribution system. The meeting also saw an agreement that, during the dam-filling period, BBMB would provide excess water to Punjab to meet any additional water requirements, according to official sources. This move aims to maintain a balance in the water-sharing arrangement between the states and ensure equitable water access for all parties involved.