Punjab Cabinet withdraws consent for CISF deployment at dams given by Channi govt
Addressing the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said, 'During its 111-day regime, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led Congress government in Punjab had on October 21, 2021, given its consent to the Centre for the CISF deployments at dams in the state. The Cabinet today approved the withdrawal of that consent with immediate effect. During the upcoming Assembly session, we will bring a special resolution that CISF will not be allowed.'
In May, the Centre had sanctioned a contingent of 296 armed CISF personnel to provide a counter-terrorist security cover to the Nangal dam in Punjab amid the standoff between Punjab and Haryana over the sharing of water from the dam.
By mid-May, the Centre ordered the deployment of the CISF at the Bhakra Dam, citing concerns over the security of critical infrastructure. The Centre had clarified that the move was not politically motivated but a response to security lapses, especially after BBMB engineers and senior officers complained of being unable to perform their duties under coercion from the state.
Later, at a NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi, Mann opposed the Centre's move to deploy CISF. However, CISF personnel have yet to be deployed.
Cheema said the Punjab Police is a capable force and it will continue to provide security at the dams.
'Shahpur Kandi dam is 5 km from the International Border (IB). The Punjab Police is manning it. Bhakra Dam is far away from the border.
The Punjab Police is strong and competent. They have protected the country. We will not allow CISF to take over the security of the dams.'
Cheema said the Punjab government would neither pay for their (CISF) deployment nor allow them to take over the dams.
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