Bhakhra Dam completely safe, Punjab minister informs Assembly

Chandigarh, Aug 6 (IANS) Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday categorically dismissed speculation regarding the structural safety of the Bhakhra Dam, asserting the dam is completely safe and there is absolutely no reason for panic.

Speaking during Zero Hour in the Assembly, the Cabinet Minister said that misleading reports had created unnecessary fear among the public and clarified that the dam’s temporary movement is an integral part of its engineering design.

Referring to media reports claiming that the Bhakhra Dam had tilted, Goyal said the misleading reports had created unnecessary panic among the people of Punjab. He clarified that the dam remained one of the world’s finest engineering marvels and has earned global appreciation, with expert teams from countries, including the US and Canada, acknowledging its robust design and engineering standards.

The minister explained that the dam is designed to experience slight movement under increased water pressure and return to its original position once the pressure recedes. He said the reported movement of merely 1.03 inches falls well within the engineering design parameters of the dam. Between 1995 and 2025, such movement was recorded 15 times and on every occasion the structure reverted to its normal position without any safety concerns.

Goyal said the recent movement observed in 2025 was also part of the dam’s normal structural behaviour and did not indicate any structural weakness or danger. He reiterated that the dam is completely safe.

Addressing concerns regarding silt accumulation, the minister clarified that the deposited silt is located nearly 12 km upstream of the dam wall and has no connection with the structural stability of the dam.

Goyal acknowledged that nearly 26 per cent silt accumulation has reduced the storage capacity of the reservoir but stressed that it has no bearing on the dam’s safety. He said the responsibility for desilting rests with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Union Government.

“Punjab has consistently raised the issue of desilting during meetings of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).” He informed the House that the state government had recently written to the BBMB and the Union Government, urging them to undertake desilting operations at the earliest, as it falls within their responsibility.

The minister said the removal of silt would restore the reservoir’s storage capacity and enhance water availability.

–IANS

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