Chandigarh, April 27— In response to the escalating security situation following India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as a retaliatory measure against Pakistan after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, security agencies have intensified their vigilance at key dams and headworks across the region.
Sources have confirmed that a general alert has been issued, urging heightened security measures to prevent any potential sabotage or attacks by hostile elements.
“The dams themselves may be resilient to terror attacks, but the possibility of peripheral structures, transmission lines, minor installations, or even employees being targeted cannot be ruled out,” said a senior security official.
“More than any physical damage, it is the psychological impact or even a small incident that matters.”
Recent incidents, including grenade attacks at police stations in Punjab and the recovery of weapons believed to have been dropped by drones along the International Border, have further raised concerns, compelling authorities to enhance security across these crucial installations.
The heightened alert coincides with the increased readiness of security forces, particularly the Border Security Force (BSF), tasked with managing the India-Pakistan border during peacetime.
Simultaneously, the Air Force and several Army formations are conducting their routine field exercises.
The region is home to three major dams: Bhakra and Pong, located on the Sutlej and Beas rivers in Himachal Pradesh, and Thein on the Ravi in Punjab.
Besides, numerous powerhouses, barrages, and headworks downstream of these dams, including those near the International Border, play a critical role in regulating the flow of water in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The Bhakra, Pong, and Thein dams are strategically vital, with a combined hydro-power generation capacity of 2,375 megawatts and an irrigation potential covering over a million hectares.
The Kol Dam, upstream of Bhakra, adds an additional 800 MW to the region’s hydro-power output. These installations are part of the broader water management system that, under the IWT, governs the distribution of water between India and Pakistan.
Under the IWT, signed in 1960, India retains exclusive rights to use waters from the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, while Pakistan has access to water from the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers that flow through Jammu and Kashmir.
In light of the current security environment, intelligence agencies continue to monitor potential threats to these high-value assets. “The threat perception around these installations remains high,” an official noted, referencing several past occasions when alerts regarding terror strikes were issued.
The responsibility for securing these assets lies with the police forces in the respective states, though the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will now replace state police in some areas, starting with the Beas-Sutlej link canal in Himachal.
Over the past few years, security around these dams has been significantly strengthened, with additional manpower, protective devices, and access control systems installed to safeguard these vital assets.
