79Bhakra Management Board

(1) The Central Government shall constitute a Board to be called the Bhakra Management Board for the administration, maintenance and operation of the following works, namely:—

(a) Bhakra Dam and Reservior and works appurtenant thereto;

(b) Nangal Dam and Nangal-Hydel Channel up to Kotla Power House;

(c) the irrigation headworks at Rupar, Harike and Ferozepur;

(d) Bhakra Power Houses:

Provided that the administration, maintenance and operation by the said Board of the generating units of the Right Bank Power House as have not been commissioned shall commence as and when any such unit has been commissioned;

(e) Ganguwal and Kotla Power Houses;

(f) Sub-stations at Ganguwal, Ambala, Panipat, Delhi, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Hissar and the main 220 KV transmission lines connecting the said sub-stations with the power stations specified in clauses (d) and (e); and

(g) such other works as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

(2) The Bhakra Management Board shall consist of—

(a) a whole-time Chairman and two whole-time members to be appointed by the Central Government;

(b) a representative each of the Governments of the States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and the Union territory of Himachal Pradesh to be nominated by the respective Governments or Administrator, as the case may be;

(c) two representatives of the Central Government to be nominated by that Government.

(3) The functions of the Bhakra Management Board shall include—

(a) the regulation of the supply of water from the Bhakra-Nangal Project to the States of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan having regard to—

(i) any agreement entered into or arrangement made between the Governments of the existing State of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan, and

(ii) the agreement or the order referred to in sub-section (1) of section 78;

(b) the regulation of the supply of power generated at the power houses referred to in sub-section (1) to any Electricity Board or other authority in charge of the distribution of power having regard to—

(i) any agreement entered into or arrangement made between the Governments of the existing State of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan,

(ii) the agreement or the order referred to in sub-section (1) of section 78; and

(iii) any agreement entered into or arrangement made by the existing State of Punjab or the Punjab Electricity Board or the State of Rajasthan or the Rajasthan Electricity Board with any other Electricity Board or authority in charge of distribution of power before the appointed day in relation to the supply of power generated at the power houses specified in sub-section (1);

(c) the construction of such of the remaining works connected with the Right Bank Power House as the Central Government may specify;

(d) such other functions as the Central Government may, after consultation with the Governments of the States of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, entrust to it.

(4) The Bhakra Management Board may employ such staff as it may consider necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act:

Provided that every person who immediately before the constitution of the said Board was engaged in the construction, maintenance or operator of the works in sub-section (1) shall continue to be so employed under the Board in connection with the said works on the same terms and conditions of service as were applicable to him before such constitution until the Central Government by order directs otherwise:

Provided further that the said Board may at any time in consultation with State Government or the Electricity Board concerned and with the previous approval of the Central Government return any such person for service under that Government or Board.

(5) The Governments of the successor States and of Rajasthan shall at all times provide the necessary funds to the Bhakra Management Board to meet all expenses (including the salaries and allowances of the staff) required for the discharge of its functions and such amounts shall be apportioned among the successor States, the State of Rajasthan and Electricity Boards of the said States in such proportion as the Central Government may, having regard to the benefits to each of the said States or Boards, specify.

(6) The Bhakra Management Board shall be under the control of the Central Government and shall comply with such directions, as may from time to time, be given to it by that Government.

(7) The Bhakra Management Board may with the approval of the Central Government delegate such of its powers, functions and duties as it may deem fit to the Chairman of the said Board or to any officer subordinate to the Board.

(8) The Central Government may, for the purpose of enabling the Bhakra Management Board to function effectively, issue such directions to the State Governments of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan and the Administrator of the Union territory of Himachal Pradesh or any other authority, and the State Governments, Administrator or authority shall comply with such directions.

(9) The Bhakra Management Board may, with the previous approval of the Central Government and by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder, to provide for—

(a) regulating the time and place of meetings of the Board and the procedure to be followed for the transaction of business at such meetings;

(b) delegation of powers and duties to the Chairman or any officer of the Board;

(c) the appointment, and the regulation of the conditions of service, of the officers and other staff of the Board;

(d) any other matter for which regulations are considered necessary by the Board.