Chandigarh, March 22: The Punjab government has challenged the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s jurisdiction over residential townships, asserting that surplus land acquired for dam construction decades ago should be returned to the state. In a recent letter, the state government contended that the BBMB has no power to regulate or lease township properties to private individuals.
The disagreement centers on whether township and colony lands qualify as “works appurtenant” to the dam under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. The state argued that essential works include only reservoirs, powerhouses, and hydel channels. It maintained that residential infrastructure built to house manpower during the construction phase does not fall within this category once projects are complete.
“The purpose would be best served if such land is handed back to the state from where it was acquired,” the state communication asserted. Officials stated that large tracts of land in Nangal and Talwara have become surplus now that the construction phase of the Bhakra and Beas projects ended years ago.
The BBMB had previously requested Punjab’s feedback on a draft lease policy meant to regulate private occupants currently living on board-managed land. However, Punjab’s response has instead questioned the board’s underlying ownership of the territory.
The state government affirmed that ownership and management of such land fall under the jurisdiction of Punjab as per Sections 6 and 48 of the 1966 Act. This development sets the stage for a potential administrative confrontation that could affect other partner states associated with the BBMB project areas.
