CISF gets control of Bhakra, Nangal dams’ security today

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will take over the security of Bhakra and Nangal dams at midnight today.

Sources told The Tribune that the CISF would take over the security of the right and left banks of Nangal Dam and water regulation gates of the dam.

Earlier, the security of Nangal Dam was with the Punjab Police. The sources said the Punjab Police personal, posted for security at Nangal Dam, would be shifted to relatively insignificant installations at Ganguwal and Kotla power houses and Lohand Khad gates near Kiratpur Sahib.

The Nangal Dam was in focus when the AAP workers, led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, sat on dharna and did not allow the BBMB authorities to release extra water to Haryana from the Punjab quota in May. It was from Nangal Dam that the water was released in the Nangal hydel canal of the BBMB that later is named the Bhakra mainline and carries water from the Bhakra project to Haryana.

Now that the security of Nangal Dam would be with the CISF, Punjab would have little control over the dam directly.

The sources said besides the Nangal dam, the CISF would take over the security of Bhakra Dam at midnight, relieving the Himachal Police cops who were earlier entrusted with the security of the dam. The sources said that out of 180 Himachal Police personal earlier deputed for the security of Bhakra Dam, 115 are being relieved from the BBMB tonight.

The remaining Himachal Police personal would continue to man the police nakas enroute to Bhakra Dam. None of the Punjab Police personnel are being removed from the BBMB, but are being moved to insignificant installations.

The commandants, who are DSP-level officers, of the Himachal and Punjab police working in the BBMB, have been retained in the organisation for the time being.