Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Monday admitted that there is a “threat perception” of “underwater attacks” to the Bhakra Dam, known as an engineering marvel.
BBMB chairman AB Agarwal maintained that even as no such incident of under water attack has been reported in the country so far, the BBMB is beefing up its security to be prepared for any such threat.
“Threat perception is there but no such incident like this has been reported in India…With increasing technology, sophisticated devices and with precision have been developed….Intelligence agencies have advised us to take care of this aspect,” said Agarwal.
His assertion assumes significance following Intelligence’s latest inputs regarding dam’s security. Couple of years back, intelligence agencies had intercepted a terror threat from the Pakistan-based terror groups lashkar-e-Tayyeba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Dam’s security was also beefed up at that time also.
At that time, the Intelligence Bureau reports maintained that Pakistan-based terror outfits were specifically training their cadres in cliff-climbing, swimming across water channels and handling explosives with the intention to attack the dam.
It added that they were planning a strike at 225-metre high Bhakra Dam during the monsoon when water level in the dam remains at its peak, so as to cause maximum damage. Fortifying its security, especially under water, the BBMB has decided to install more security equipments including the CCTV cameras, sources said.
Bhakra Dam, that has celebrated its golden jubilee in 2013, has been, is the prime source of water supply to the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and also Chandigarh for irrigation and drinking purposes apart from power.
Referred as ‘temple of modern India’ by country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Bhakra Dam’s security was the responsibility of the both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Governments in respect to the area fall under both States. Agarwal maintained that its security has been increased over the past few years from 191 to 278.
“We are taking special care of dam’s security…we have not even allowed its photography by anyone, among many other things,” said Agarwal.
BBMB’s proposal to have the central force — Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) — for dam’s security could not be materialised following the “partner states refused to pay additional charges for the security…they have deployed their manpower”.