Chandigarh, April 14 (IANS) Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Tuesday termed the new notification by the Centre that changed eligibility criteria for top Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) posts reserved for Punjab and Haryana as “anti-state”.
Speaking to reporters, he said when the state was carved out of Punjab, specific rules for the board were formally established. These rules included several provisions designed to safeguard Haryana’s interests.
For instance, it was stipulated that the member in charge of irrigation on the board would be from Haryana, the member in charge of power would be from Punjab, and the Chairman would not be from Himachal Pradesh.
However, the new decision now states that a member from any state may occupy any of these positions. This raises apprehensions that Haryana’s rights are being trifled with, a concern underscored by past instances.
Leader of Opposition Hooda remarked that while the BJP government is failing to secure SYL water for Haryana on the one hand, Haryana’s interests regarding both the Bhakra water allocation and employment opportunities within the management board are consistently being ignored on the other.
“What is most unfortunate is that the state’s BJP government remains completely silent on this matter. Even when Haryana’s quota for recruitment within the BBMB was abolished, the state government failed to register any objection,” he pointed out.
Responding to a question regarding the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, he said the Supreme Court had delivered a verdict in Haryana’s favour several years ago.
“For several years now, BJP governments have been in power at both the state level in Haryana and at the Centre. Despite this, neither government is making any effort to ensure that Haryana receives its rightful share of water. This constitutes a betrayal of the people of Haryana,” he added.
–IANS
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