Minister of State for Railways and former MP from Punjab Ravneet Singh Bittu today sought to allay concerns around a government notification laying down eligibility for two top posts in Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which were earlier reserved for Punjab and Haryana officials.A Ministry of Power notification two days ago — as exclusively reported by The Tribune — detailed the requirements for persons applying to positions of Member Power and Member Irrigation at BBMB, which previously used to go only to Punjab and Haryana, respectively.The notification says preference for the posts would still be given to Punjab and Haryana officials but stops short of granting assured positions — a matter that has become a cause of anxiety for political players in both states.Bittu today said, “Only if there is no applicant from outside Punjab and Haryana will the posts be opened to applicants from other states. And there is no way there would be no applicant from these two states.”Bittu said priority would still be given to Punjab in Member Power post and to Haryana in case of Member Irrigation. “These posts will come to Punjab and Haryana only,” Bittu said.


