Bhakra dam structure completely safe, says Punjab water minister
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday asserted that the structure of the Bhakra Dam is completely safe and there was no reason for panic.
Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Goyal said some media reports claiming that the Bhakra Dam had tilted created unnecessary fear among people.
He explained that the dam’s temporary movement is a normal part of its engineering design. The dam is built to experience slight movements due to increased water pressure and is designed to return to its original position once the pressure decreases, he said.
According to Goyal, the reported movement of just 1.03 inches is well within the dam’s engineering design parameters. He noted that between 1995 and 2025, similar movements had been recorded 15 times, and in each instance, the structure returned to its normal position without any safety concerns.
He emphasised that the recent movement observed in 2025 was also part of the dam’s normal structural behaviour and did not suggest any structural weakness or danger. Goyal urged people not to be misled by misinformation and reiterated that the dam is safe.
Addressing concerns regarding silt accumulation, the minister clarified that the deposited silt is located nearly 12 kilometres upstream of the dam wall and has no connection with the dam’s structural stability.
While he acknowledged that approximately 26 per cent of silt accumulation has reduced the reservoir’s storage capacity, he stressed that this does not impact the dam’s safety.
Goyal pointed out that the responsibility for desilting lies with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Union Government. He noted that Punjab has consistently raised the issue of desilting during BBMB meetings.
The minister informed the House that the state government recently wrote to the BBMB and the Central Government, urging them to initiate desilting operations promptly, as it is their responsibility.
He added that removing the silt would restore the reservoir’s storage capacity and enhance water availability.
Earlier, rebel Akali MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali raised the issue of Bhakra Dam and claimed that because of the silt, its storage capacity has declined. He also raised concern over the dam being tilted.
