BBMB and Punjab are at odds over dam security; BBMB proposes 435 personnel, but Punjab refuses to take them
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 6, 2025
After the water war between Punjab and Haryana escalated, the Punjab police had taken control of the regulator gates at the Bhakra Nangal dam and deployed personnel there. This led to the debate of deployment of central forces at dams and key installations under the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
In the ongoing feud between two partner state, union home secretary Govind Mohan had also asked the Punjab government to withdraw the excess Punjab Police from the dam regulator. But Punjab government didn’t pay any heed to Union Home Secretary’s request. As per sources approximately two dozen police personnel are presently deployed at the dam, and two DSP rank officers have been stationed there.
In spite of all this , CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government has passed a resolution in Punjab Vidhan Sabha on May 5, 2025 annulling the Dam Safety Act 2021, calling it a direct attack on Punjab’s right.
While passing the resolution in the Punjab Vidhan sabha, state government said “ This House considers the Dam Safety Act 2021 an attack on Punjab’s rights. It gives the Centre excessive control over state-owned dams and rivers, even those fully within state boundaries. This undermines India’s federal structure and weakens Punjab’s sovereignty over its water resources. The Act must be repealed immediately.”
Why Dam security becomes a bone of contention between Punjab and BBMB?
Punjab Police is securing the dams and other key installations in Punjab whereas Himachal Police is managing the dam and other important installations security falling in their jurisdiction. In 2023, following the passage of the Dam safety Act the full board meeting, BBMB had moved a proposal for deployment of four companies each led by commandant rank officer with total 435 personnel at Bhakra Dam, Nangal dam and other key regulators and water channels associated with Bhakra Canal.
As per plan, CISF was to take over the key installations from April 1,2025. But the Punjab govt rejected the proposal citing heavy cost for a cash strapped state. Than the BBMB revised the proposal and decided the deploy central security forces at Bhakra dam, Nangal dam, key installations and the remaining lesser important sites to be managed by respective state police. The number was cut short to around 300 personnel.
“We are in the process to deploy the central forces at dams and other key installations and it will take around 3-4 months.Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has already been deputed to guard BBMB’s Beas Sutlej Link (BSL) project in Sundernagar that falls in Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh. In the next phase, the BBMB would begin process for deployment of central forces at Pong Dam which is built over Beas, said a BBMB official on the condition of anonymity.
“We have been objecting to the deployment of the central security forces at the dam installation as it involves cost that is three-four times more than deploying state police. The state governments have to bear the enhanced cost,’ said a senior functionary in the Punjab irrigation department.
What is Dam Safety Act, 2021
In order to address the dam safety issues holistically, Union Government has enacted the Dam Safety Act in December 2021. The Act provides a comprehensive frame work for proper surveillance, inspection, operations and maintenance of all the large (specified) dams of the country for ensuring their safe functioning and to avoid dam failure related disasters. The Act also provides for empowered institutional framework for dam safety both at the Centre and State and will also help in standardizing and improving dam safety practices across the country.
