Punjab approved CISF deployment at Bhakra Dam in 2021 board meeting

The Punjab Government approved the deployment of CISF at the Bhakra Dam project in a 2021 board meeting. The decision was taken during a full board meeting, attended by junior-level officers from Punjab.

Sources stated that the initial plan was to deploy 400 CISF personnel. However, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh objected to the retrenchment of their security staff from BBMB.

As a result, BBMB opted for a hybrid security model for Bhakra Dam, involving CISF and police personnel from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Consequently, the CISF contingent was reduced from 400 to 296 personnel.

However, Punjab has now opposed the deployment of CISF in BBMB projects.

Sources indicated that the decision to deploy CISF at Bhakra Dam will not affect the Punjab Police personnel deployed in BBMB. However, it will affect the Himachal Police personnel deployed in BBMB.

Tources stated that the Punjab Government has only 15 police personnel deployed in BBMB. These police personnel are stationed in the Nangal township area and Nangal Dam.

The security of Bhakra Dam and other BBMB dams, including Pong Dam, was the responsibility of the Himachal Police. Currently, over 200 Himachal Police personnel are deployed in BBMB for dam security.

The security of BBMB dams fell under the jurisdiction of the Himachal Police since they are located within the state. The Himachal Police personnel are stationed at the state boundary on the road to Bhakra Dam. They register every vehicle and person heading towards Bhakra Dam.

The Punjab Police personnel are stationed at the Punjab-Himachal border. The industry in Bilaspur district demanded the removal of Punjab police checkpoints on the state border along the road to Bhakra Dam, citing harassment.

They argued that there was no need for the Punjab Police checkpoints on the Bhakra road since the dam’s security was handled by the Himachal Police.

According to the sources, the CISF personnel would replace the Himachal Police personnel at Bhakra and other dam sites as per the proposal. It has been proposed that the 15 Punjab police personnel posted at Bhakra Dam would be sent back to the state. Instead, they would be deployed at other BBMB projects that are currently unguarded. The Punjab Police personnel would be deployed at BBMB’s Ganguwal and Nakkian power projects, as well as other vital bridges over the BBMB canal.

Sources stated that, according to the current proposal, all 296 CISF personnel would be stationed in Nangal township. The BBMB authorities have been tasked with preparing residences for the CISF personnel who will be posted in Nangal township.

Punjab