NANGAL / NEW DELHI, May 21: Amid the escalating water-sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel for the security of the Bhakra Dam project at Nangal.
A total of 296 CISF posts have been created, with instructions sent to the Director, Security and Consultancy, Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to expedite arrangements for accommodation, transport, communication tools, and security gear for the incoming force.
The decision follows heightened tensions, including increased deployment by Punjab Police near the dam and an incident where BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi was gheraoed by protesters at a rest house while supervising the release of additional water to Haryana.
The development came even as the Punjab AAP government celebrated its move to halt further water release, asserting that Haryana had exhausted its share for the depletion period from September 2024 to May 2025.
The CISF deployment is seen as a precautionary step to ensure uninterrupted dam operations and prevent escalation, as the interstate water row intensifies.
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