Bhakra Beas Management Amendment Rules

Bhakra Beas Management Amendment Rules

TOPIC: Environment

Context- The Union Power Ministry has made an amendment to the rules governing the appointment of Member Power and Member Irrigation on Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) from Punjab and Haryana, respectively, thereby removing the stipulation that these two appointments need to be filled from the two states only.

Concept-

Bhakra Beas Management Rules, 1974:

• According to the Bhakra Beas Management Board Rules, 1974, the member (power) in BBMB was from Punjab and the member (irrigation) was from Haryana.
• As per the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, the waters of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are allocated to India and are available to be utilised for irrigation purposes within the country.
  • On the Beas and Sutlej, Bhakra Dehar and Beas power projects were constructed.
• The BBMB controls these projects, and the expenditure is shared by the states in the ratio of their shares.
• Under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, the share from BBMB was divided between Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 58:42, with some share to Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh subsequently added.
  • Punjab and Haryana are the two major beneficiaries.