3 weeks ago
Bhakhra Dam completely safe, says Punjab Water Resources Minister
The Bhakhra Dam is a very big dam.
Some news reports said the dam was tilting, which made people in Punjab scared.
A minister named Barinder Kumar Goyal told the Assembly the dam is completely safe.
He said the dam moves just a tiny bit, about an inch, when there is a lot of water behind it.
This small movement is part of the dam's design, and the dam always goes back to normal.
The dam has moved this way 15 times between 1995 and 2025, and it was always fine.
There is also mud called silt sitting far from the dam wall.
The silt makes the dam hold less water, but it does not make the dam unsafe.
The government wants the silt removed so the dam can store more water again.
Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal told the Assembly the Bhakhra Dam is completely safe and there is no reason for panic.
He dismissed media reports claiming the dam had tilted, calling them misleading reports that created unnecessary fear among the public.
The minister said the reported movement of 1.03 inches is within the dam's engineering design, with similar movement recorded 15 times between 1995 and 2025.
Nearly 26 per cent silt accumulation has reduced the reservoir's storage capacity but has no bearing on the dam's structural safety.
Goyal said desilting is the responsibility of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Union Government, which Punjab has urged to act at the earliest.
- Who
- Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal; the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Union Government are responsible for desilting.
- What
- The minister declared the Bhakhra Dam completely safe, dismissing as misleading reports that the dam had tilted and clarifying that its movement and silt buildup pose no safety risk.
- Where
- Punjab Assembly in Chandigarh, concerning the Bhakhra Dam.
- When
- Thursday, during Zero Hour in the Punjab Assembly; similar dam movement was recorded 15 times between 1995 and 2025, most recently in 2025.
- Why
- To counter misleading reports that had created unnecessary panic among the people of Punjab about the dam's safety.
Media Reports and Public Concern
Punjab Government
Structural safety of the dam
Media Reports and Public Concern
Media reports claimed the Bhakhra Dam had tilted, creating panic among the people of Punjab.
Punjab Government
Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal says the reports are misleading; the dam is completely safe, and its 1.03-inch movement is within engineering design parameters.
Silt accumulation and storage
Media Reports and Public Concern
Concerns were raised that silt accumulation could affect the dam, which is nearly 26 per cent silted and has reduced reservoir storage capacity.
Punjab Government
The minister said the silt is located around 12 km upstream and has no connection to structural stability; desilting is the responsibility of BBMB and the Union Government.
Key facts
- Dam
- Bhakhra Dam
- Declared status
- Completely safe
- Reported movement
- 1.03 inches
- Movement history
- Recorded 15 times between 1995 and 2025
- Silt accumulation
- Nearly 26 per cent of storage capacity
- Silt location
- About 12 km upstream of the dam wall
- Desilting responsibility
- Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Union Government
- Statement location
- Zero Hour in the Punjab Assembly, Chandigarh
Quotes
Barinder Kumar Goyal
Punjab Water Resources Minister
“Punjab has consistently raised the issue of desilting during meetings of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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