SNE NETWORK.CHANDIGARH.
Asia’s tallest (approximately 226 meters), the Bhakra Dam, made of concrete, has buckled 15 times in 30 years due to rising water pressure. During the 2025 Punjab floods, it also buckled by 0.03 inches due to excessive water, but now the dam has returned to its original position. In fact, this phenomenon is reflected in the dam’s drawings, and teams of experts from the United States, Canada, and several other countries have visited to study it.
No threat to the dam
Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal stated in the Punjab Assembly that this buckling does not pose any threat to the dam’s safety. He clarified that the slight displacement of the dam is part of its engineering design. When water pressure increases, the dam bends and slides slightly, and automatically returns to its original position as soon as the pressure subsides.
Rumors spread in 2025
The Minister stated that during the 2025 floods, rumors about this very issue had spread throughout Punjab, creating panic among the people. A large number of people contacted him and departmental officials seeking information about the dam’s safety. He reiterated that the Bhakra Dam is completely safe and that people need not worry.
26% less rainfall in July, water levels at the Bhakra-Pong dams decreased
Silt has not been removed from the Bhakra Dam’s Gobind Sagar reservoir for a long time. This silt has accumulated in the reservoir area, approximately 12 kilometers behind the dam wall. As a result, the reservoir’s storage capacity has decreased by approximately 26 percent. If silt is removed in a timely manner, the reservoir’s water storage capacity could be significantly increased.
Center and BBMB held responsible for silt removal
The Punjab government has blamed the central government and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for the delay in desilting the Bhakra reservoir. Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal stated that the Punjab government has written to the central government in this regard, but has not yet received a response. He added that the BBMB is also showing no seriousness in this regard. According to the minister, removing silt from the reservoir would increase its water storage capacity and help reduce flood risk.###USA###UK###CANADA###BBMB-NEWS###PUNJAB###CHANDIGARH###INDIA###AUSTRALIA###GERMANY###IRELAND###SWEDEN###EUROPE###CHINA###HUNGRY###FRANCE###ITLAY###ROME###RUSSIA###UKRAINE###VIETNAM###SINGAPORE###@