Chandigarh, Sept. 25 -- The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Wednesday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that the flood situation in Punjab would not have been "so grave" had the state released the additional water to Haryana in April-May.

The statement in this regard was made by senior advocate Rajesh Garg, appearing for BBMB, during the resumed hearing of a plea filed by the Punjab government, wherein it has challenged BBMB's decision to allow release of 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana in April-May. The BBMB established under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, regulates water distribution from Bhakra, Nangal, and Pong dams between Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

Explaining the BBMB's role and circumstan...