The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is planning a comprehensive geological survey of the hillocks and slopes surrounding the Bhakra Dam due to recurring landslides, particularly during the monsoon season. Sources indicate that the board is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to conduct the detailed study. The BBMB has already written to the GSI, with formalities underway to finalize the agreement. Officials emphasize that the initiative is a proactive, preventive measure rather than a response to any immediate threat to the dam's structure.

The proposed survey will assess critical factors including rock strength, slope stability, fault lines, and drainage patterns in the surrounding hills. The Shivalik range, where the Bhakra Dam is located, features fragile slopes, loose debris, and sedimentary as well as metamorphic rocks prone to weathering and erosion. These geological characteristics make the area highly susceptible to landslides, especially during heavy rainfall. Recurring incidents over recent monsoons have affected access routes, with last year's heavy rains triggering multiple slope failures that blocked both road and railway tracks connecting Nangal to the dam site.

The Bhakra Dam, one of India's oldest and largest multipurpose projects built in the 1950s–1960s on the Sutlej River, generates hydroelectric power, provides irrigation to vast areas in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, and aids flood control. The reservoir, Gobind Sagar, is flanked by mountainous terrain that has seen persistent landslide activity. Earlier GSI assessments identified 22 spots along the reservoir rim as prone to such events, with causes including oversaturation of debris, poor rock mass conditions, and human-induced alterations to natural slopes. The new study aims to provide updated data to inform risk mitigation strategies and enhance long-term safety.

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The decision follows concerns over increasing landslide frequency in the region amid changing weather patterns and monsoon intensity. While the dam itself has remained stable, disruptions to approach routes have highlighted the need for better understanding of surrounding slope dynamics. The BBMB-managed survey is expected to guide potential stabilization measures, improved drainage systems, or early warning mechanisms to protect infrastructure, nearby communities, and the dam's operational reliability.

This planned assessment aligns with broader efforts to address geological vulnerabilities in Himalayan and sub-Himalayan zones, where landslides pose ongoing challenges to infrastructure. As formalities for the MoU progress, the initiative underscores a commitment to scientific evaluation and preventive planning to safeguard one of northern India's key water and power resources from seasonal natural hazards.

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