Chandigarh, Oct. 14 -- The central government has proposed a major amendment to the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, aimed at restructuring the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), a move that can potentially dilute Punjab's role and influence in the inter-state body.

At present, only Punjab and Haryana have permanent members in the BBMB. However, the Centre has proposed to increase it to four by giving representation to Himachal and Rajasthan. This has come weeks after the Centre deputed the CISF at Bhakra for security, a move opposed by Punjab.

The BBMB has been at the centre of a water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana since April this year. The controversy erupted after BBMB decided to allocate additional water to Haryana, ...