Delay in Desilting of Bhakra Dam Could Prove Disastrous for Punjab: Manpreet Singh Ayali

Chandigarh, August 6, 2026: Akali Dal Waris Punjab De senior leader and MLA from Mullanpur Dakha, Manpreet Singh Ayali, on Wednesday drew the attention of both the Punjab Government and the Central Government to the critical condition of the Bhakra Dam during the Punjab Assembly session. He warned that failure to undertake timely desilting of the dam could pose a serious threat to Punjab.
Ayali said that the vision for the Bhakra Dam was first conceived by Sir Chhotu Ram in 1925. Construction began in 1948 after Independence, and the dam was completed in 1963. However, following the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966, Sections 78, 79, and 80 affected Punjab's rights over its water and electricity resources. Today, water from the dam is supplied to Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, while the electricity generated is also distributed to several other states.
He pointed out that the absence of desilting for many years has resulted in the accumulation of large quantities of silt, soil, and rocks in the reservoir, significantly reducing its water storage capacity. As a result, the dam reaches its maximum capacity much sooner, forcing authorities to open the floodgates. According to Ayali, Punjab bears the brunt of this situation in the form of devastating floods.
Manpreet Singh Ayali further stated that when the dam was constructed, experts had specified a permissible limit for its structural tilt. He expressed concern over the current condition of the dam and stressed that there should be no compromise on its safety. He urged the authorities to implement the recommendations of technical experts without delay.
He also informed the House that the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti had constituted a 10-member committee to examine the issue of desilting, but no concrete progress has been made so far. In addition, reports prepared by IIT Roorkee and IIT Ropar have also recommended immediate desilting of the dam to avert any potential future disaster.
Ayali demanded that the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Central Government, the Punjab Government, and all beneficiary states receiving water and electricity from the Bhakra Dam should fulfil their responsibilities and immediately launch the desilting work on a war footing to ensure the safety of Punjab and millions of people across the country.