NANGAL, Aug. 28 — The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has begun arriving in Nangal to take charge of security at the Bhakra Dam, a move that has triggered sharp political opposition in Punjab. A contingent of 200 personnel is slated to assume control of the facility from August 31.
By late Thursday, about 10 to 15 personnel had reached the township of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), with the rest expected to arrive through the evening, according to sources. Their induction marks the start of a major shift in the security arrangements at one of North India’s most critical hydroelectric and irrigation projects.
The BBMB has readied 90 residential quarters in its Nangal township to house the CISF. However, officials from the central force are reported to have declined permanent use of those units, instead requesting construction of a dedicated colony near Olida in Himachal Pradesh, closer to the dam site. For the interim, personnel are being accommodated in BBMB quarters and the township’s community hall.
Political backlash has quickly followed. Punjab Congress leaders accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of surrendering control of the dam to the Centre. Speaking in Ropar, district Congress president Ashwani Sharma said the state leadership failed to act on the Assembly’s resolution opposing CISF deployment.
“Despite the Congress and all opposition parties unanimously supporting the state government’s resolution against the deployment of CISF in BBMB, not a single legal step has been taken to halt it,” Sharma said. “The Punjab government could have moved court, but failed to do so. The current Chief Minister will go down in history as the one under whose watch Punjab surrendered control of BBMB to the Centre.”
The Punjab Assembly had earlier adopted a unanimous resolution against CISF deployment, noting that the state police had managed security of the dam effectively for decades. Employee unions also voiced concern over costs, with estimates suggesting the central force’s deployment will add an annual burden of nearly ₹100 crore.
Nevertheless, BBMB has advanced preparations for the central force, and officials indicated the security transfer is being carried out in phases, with additional CISF personnel expected in the coming days.
The dispute underscores long-standing tensions between Punjab and the Centre over resource management and administrative authority, particularly regarding the Bhakra Dam, which remains crucial for Punjab’s water supply and electricity generation.
