The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has remained a subject of deep dispute ever since the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 placed control of major hydro projects under its authority. Although Punjab provided the land, infrastructure, and resources for these projects, the control has largely shifted to the Centre, with neighbouring states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh benefiting disproportionately. Punjab has long voiced concerns about being sidelined in both decision-making and financial distribution, but unlike Himachal Pradesh, it has failed to translate its grievances into concrete legal action.
Himachal Pradesh’s Legal Activism
Himachal Pradesh provides a clear example of how a state can aggressively assert its rights. The state argued that its rivers, land, and catchment areas were heavily exploited for the Bhakra, Beas, and Pong projects without due compensation. After years of litigation, Himachal achieved a historic victory when the Supreme Court in 2011 recognised its 7.19% entitlement of power from BBMB projects. The Court also made clear that Himachal was entitled to arrears for the period between 1966 and 2011, which translated into a claim of over 13,000 million units of electricity.
Himachal did not stop there. In February 2022, the Supreme Court directed BBMB to release nearly ₹4,200–₹4,300 crore in arrears to Himachal Pradesh. This ruling proved that persistence in courts can deliver substantial financial rewards. By comparison, Punjab—despite being the physical host of the projects—has never taken such aggressive legal measures.
FIRs Over Water Release and Damages
Himachal further strengthened its position by filing criminal cases against BBMB. In August 2023, the state lodged an FIR after BBMB suddenly released 1.42 lakh cusecs of water from Pong Dam without warning, causing devastating floods in Kangra district, particularly in Fatehpur and Indora. This unannounced release destroyed over 10,000 hectares of crops and caused damages worth more than ₹131 crore. Farmers were left devastated, and villages suffered displacement.
The state escalated matters in December 2023, when its Energy Department filed five separate FIRs against BBMB for repeated incidents of negligence in dam water management. This was the first time in history that a state government had criminally charged BBMB for damages caused to its citizens.
Renewed Demands for Power Royalty
Himachal has also pushed for 12% free power royalty from BBMB projects, in line with other hydroelectric projects in India where host states are compensated with free power. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has repeatedly argued that Himachal has been unfairly deprived of this benefit despite bearing the environmental and social costs of housing the projects. This demand, coupled with legal victories, has increased Himachal’s leverage in negotiations with the Centre.
Punjab’s Passive Approach
In contrast, Punjab has taken a far more passive stance. Despite being the state where most of BBMB’s physical infrastructure is located, it has neither filed FIRs nor moved the Supreme Court with the same consistency as Himachal. This inaction has resulted in:
Financial Losses: Punjab has not received arrears or compensation comparable to Himachal’s claims.
Erosion of Authority: BBMB continues to be dominated by Centre-appointed officials, undermining Punjab’s say in managing its own natural resources.
Political Weakness: Punjab’s lack of assertiveness makes it appear complacent, even as Himachal demonstrates what determined litigation can achieve.
Why Punjab Must Act Now
If Punjab follows Himachal’s path by filing FIRs and initiating strong legal battles, it could claim damages for years of financial loss and environmental harm caused by BBMB’s operations. Such action would also protect Punjab’s federal rights, send a strong political message, and secure future entitlements for upcoming generations. Himachal Pradesh’s victories prove that courts and legal strategies work, but they require persistence and political will.
The BBMB dispute is not just a legal battle—it is a matter of dignity, federal rights, and economic justice. Himachal Pradesh has shown how legal activism and FIRs can reclaim long-denied dues, including thousands of crores in arrears and compensation for damages. Punjab, as the primary stakeholder, has even stronger grounds to act but has so far failed to take the initiative. The time has come for the Punjab government to shed its passivity, file FIRs, move the courts, and demand what rightfully belongs to the state and its people. Anything less will be a betrayal of Punjab’s resources, history, and future.