CHANDIGARH: The Punjab-Haryana river water dispute continues to fuel political theatrics, with dramatic developments now resulting in a serious setback for Punjab’s control over a key water resource. The Central Government has announced the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Nangal Dam, marking a significant shift in operational control away from the Punjab Police.
This comes in the wake of a controversial protest led by Punjab cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains, who forcibly locked the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) control room in Nangal.
Until now, the security of Bhakra and Nangal Dams — the lifelines of Punjab’s irrigation system — was managed by the Punjab Police. The Centre’s decision to hand over security to CISF is being seen as a direct consequence of the agitation by AAP leaders, aimed at gaining political mileage rather than securing long-term water rights for Punjab.
“This is a big blow, ” said a senior official in the Punjab Water Resources Department. “Not only has it damaged the state’s image in inter-state negotiations, but it has also led to a loss of control over strategic assets that were historically under Punjab’s administrative domain.”
MHA approves 296 CISF posts
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to replace Punjab Police with Central Industrial Security Force( CISF) at Nangal Dam and Bhakra Dam. The MHA has approved 296 posts for deployment in a najor setback to Punjab Government led by Bhagwant Mann.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has recently adopted the mantle of "Warrior of Punjab Waters, " in a deliberate contrast to his predecessor Captain Amarinder Singh, who once dubbed himself the “Saviour of Punjab Waters.” Both leaders have used the emotive water issue to galvanize support from farmers, who are the primary stakeholders and the state’s largest voting bloc.
Both Mann and Amarinder, despite their vastly different political affiliations, appear to have employed similar political theatrics — framing themselves as protectors of Punjab’s natural resources while sidelining grassroots engagement.
This pattern of disconnect is reminiscent of Captain Amarinder Singh's tenure, during which similar symbolic gestures on water protection failed to translate into effective policy or grassroots support. Captain Amarinder Singh, who, during his tenure, annulled all inter-state agreements for sharing the waters of Ravi and Beas but was ultimately seen as out of touch with the rural population.
Punjab’s farmers, the core stakeholders in the water-sharing debate, have shown increasing dissatisfaction with Mann's approach. Farmers, disillusioned by what they perceive as tokenism, did not come out in support of Mann during his recent protest against water release to Haryana. In fact, the state government drew widespread condemnation for forcibly removing farmer protest dharnas at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders.
The Chief Minister’s public criticism of farmers for not supporting the government’s water agitation further widened the rift. “You reach everywhere to protest, why not support the government on water issues?” he remarked — a statement seen as confrontational rather than conciliatory.
Analysts believe the recent Nangal incident highlights the dangers of turning public policy into political theater. “The locking of a control room by a state minister is unprecedented and irresponsible. It has cost Punjab operational authority over a national water asset, ” said political analyst Dr. Gurpreet Kaur.
“The irony is that both the AAP and previous Congress governments have weaponized water politics to shore up support — and both have ended up alienating the very people they claim to fight for.”
The larger dispute over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal remains unresolved. While Haryana insists on its share of the water based on Supreme Court rulings, Punjab maintains it has no surplus. The issue is further complicated by depleting groundwater levels and climate stress.
With the Supreme Court urging resolution and Centre now taking security control of Nangal Dam, Punjab’s position is perceived to be weakening — not because of legal losses, but because of political miscalculations.
Meanwhile, another flagship campaign — the Nasha Mukti Yatra (Anti-Drug March) led by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann — is also struggling to engage the public. Despite extensive publicity, there is little enthusiasm among citizens. Access to the rallies is reportedly restricted, with participation limited to invitees, blocking spontaneous public involvement.
Whether it is the so-called water warriors or anti-drug crusaders, the overarching sentiment across Punjab is one of fatigue with symbolic politics. The people — especially farmers and youth — seem increasingly disillusioned by the lack of sincerity in tackling existential issues like water scarcity and drug addiction.