Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said he has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the recent change in rules for the selection of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) members. Speaking in the state assembly, Khattar also said that he will speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue when he meets him.
"..When the decision was taken, I wrote to Union home minister (Amit Shah) that Haryana has an objection and even Punjab is objecting," Khattar told the assembly. Khattar said the state will present its stand strongly.
"I will also tell MPs from the state to take up the issue (with Centre)," he said while replying to the debate on the governor's address during the ongoing budget session of the state assembly. The BBMB, which is a statutory body under the Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966 and manages the water resources of Sutlej and Beas, has a whole-time chairman and two members of irrigation and power.
According to convention, the member (power) is always from Punjab and the member (irrigation) is from Haryana. But now, the change in rules for selection allows anyone to apply for these posts and several political leaders in Punjab and opposition leaders from Haryana are opposing the move.