New Delhi, May 21 (H.S.): Amid the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Haryana regarding the security of the Bhakra Dam project, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The Home Ministry has created 296 positions for the Central Industrial Security Force for the Bhakra Dam project. A letter has been sent to the Security and Advisory Director of the Bhakra Beas Management Board regarding this. The letter instructs the board to complete all the formalities necessary for the deployment of the force, which includes arrangements for accommodation, transportation, communication equipment, and security gear.

The deployment of security forces comes at a time when the Punjab police have increased their presence in the dam area. The Bhakra Dam is a significant structure built on the Sutlej River. It has been a center of dispute between Punjab and Haryana since the Punjab Reorganization Act of 1966. The management of water allocation is overseen by the Bhakra Beas Management Board.

The water level in the Bhakra Dam is currently 12 feet lower than it was last year. The decrease in the dam’s water level is attributed to reduced snowfall in the Himalayas this year. The Punjab government has justified the police deployment in the dam area, citing tensions between India and Pakistan as well as the recent terrorist incident in Pahalgam. This has further deepened the dispute. In light of the current situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar