The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will replace the police forces of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at various Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects following a review of threat perception and security protocols. “From October 1, the security of the…

he Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will replace the police forces of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh at various Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects following a review of threat perception and security protocols.

“From October 1, the security of the Beas-Sutlej Link will be taken over by the CISF from the Himachal Pradesh Police,” a senior BBMB official said. “The switchover is being done in phases. Next in the line is the Bhakra Dam, followed by the Pong Dam,” he added.

Sources said the move to replace the state police was undertaken after talks with central agencies, where it was felt that a single specialised agency would be better to guard these vital installations.

The BBMB projects are located in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and these are guarded by the respective police from these states depending on the location. The combined installed capacity of its power houses at Bhakra, Pong, Kol, Dehar, Kotla and Ganguwal is over 4,000 megawatts (MW). In addition, it has a transmission network of 3,753 circuit km and 24 sub-stations.

The sources said 235 CISF personnel would be deployed at the BSL, a 38-km stretch comprising two tunnels and an open channel to connect the Beas with the Sutlej from the Pandoh Dam to Slapper in Himachal Pradesh. With an output of 990 MW, the Dehar power house on the Sutlej near Slapper has the second highest capacity amongst all BBMB projects.

Located in Punjab, Himachal

The BBMB projects are located in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and these are guarded by the respective police from these states depending on the location. The combined installed capacity of its power houses at Bhakra, Pong, Kol, Dehar, Kotla and Ganguwal is over 4,000 MW