Punjab Cabinet approves service rules for separate BBMB employee cadre
The decision aims to protect the state's representation in the Bhakra Beas Management Board and create jobs for local youth.
The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, approved departmental service rules for a new separate cadre of employees for the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Saturday, according to ThePrint and The Tribune.
The Bhakra Beas Management Board was established under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, to manage projects for the Bhakra and Beas dams. Partner states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan currently send staff to the Board on deputation.
An official statement noted that although Punjab contributes 40 per cent of the Board's finances, its allocated positions have often remained vacant. This has allowed staff from other states to fill those roles despite a fixed quota.
To address this, the Council of Ministers previously approved the creation of a special cadre consisting of 2,452 posts during a meeting on November 15 last year. The new rules will allow the state to begin direct recruitment for these positions.
The Chief Minister’s Office stated that the move is intended to ensure Punjab has adequate representation in the Board and to provide employment opportunities for the state's youth.