Punjab Assembly Rejects CISF at Bhakra-Nangal Dam

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday opposing the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Bhakra-Nangal dam and other Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects, asserting that the Punjab Police has effectively secured these installations for 70 years. The resolution, moved by Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal during a special session, emphasized that Punjab will not bear the estimated ₹49.32 crore annual cost of CISF deployment.

The resolution highlighted Punjab’s objections, communicated to the BBMB on May 27 and July 4, 2025, against the Centre’s plan to deploy 296 armed CISF personnel at Nangal dam, a decision made amid a Punjab-Haryana water-sharing dispute. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, participating in the debate, affirmed the Punjab Police’s capability to protect the dams, citing their familiarity with local conditions and expertise with modern technology. “The current arrangement is efficient and cost-effective, with no significant security lapses,” the resolution stated.

The AAP government criticized the previous Congress administration’s 2021 consent for CISF deployment, which was withdrawn by the Mann cabinet on July 7, 2025. The resolution noted that Punjab Police also secure the Ranjit Sagar and Shahpurkandi dams, located closer to the international border, without issue. It argued that deploying CISF would impose an unnecessary financial burden on Punjab, a major BBMB contributor, and encroach on state jurisdiction over law and order.

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The resolution urged the Centre to abandon the CISF deployment, reinforcing Punjab’s stance on maintaining control over its critical infrastructure. The move has intensified tensions with the Centre and Haryana, with the water dispute and security concerns likely to remain contentious.

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