Punjab wants BBMB irrigation member from state

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged Union Minister Piyush Goyal to appoint a Bhakra Beas Management Board member (Irrigation) from Punjab to ensure neutrality in the functioning of the esteemed organisation.

Badal, in a letter to the Union Power Minister, said that consequent upon receiving his consent in the matter, the state government would send a panel of officers for selection and appointment as Member (Irrigation), Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The practice which has been followed in this regard was that the Centre obtains panel of officers from Punjab government and an officer so selected from the panel was appointed as Member (Power), BBMB, whereas an officer selected from the panel forwarded by the Haryana government was appointed as Member (Irrigation) BBMB. There was, however, no bar for appointment of Member (Irrigation) or Member (Power) by selection of officers either from Punjab or Haryana. He further said ever since the BBMB was constituted, Member (Irrigation) has always been appointed from panel of officers of Haryana cadre. Needless to say that Punjab and Haryana have equal interest in the subject of `Power` and `Irrigation`. Therefore, post of Member (Irrigation) and Member (Power) should be filled from panel of officers from Punjab and Haryana, by rotation, he said in the letter. This would ensure impartiality in working of BBMB, he said. Last time, S L Aggarwal, an Engineer of Haryana cadre, was appointed as Member (Irrigation) BBMB, in 2011.