Cases registered in Kangra, Kullu and Mandi for endangering lives, action on CM’s directions
Sunil Chadha
Shimla:
In an unprecedented move, the Himachal Pradesh government has initiated criminal proceedings against the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), filing five FIRs for allegedly endangering public safety by abruptly releasing water from multiple dams without proper warning.
This is the first time such legal action has been taken against the dam management body in the hill state.
The action, spearheaded by the state’s Energy Department following directions from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, comes in response to what the government calls “gross negligence” and repeated violation of dam safety protocols by BBMB officials.
BBMB officials named in FIRs
Of the five FIRs, three have been registered in Kangra and one each in Kullu and Mandi districts, based on detailed complaints filed by the Chief Engineer of the Energy Department. The cases pertain to the Pong Dam, Pandoh Dam, Parbati-III and Malana-II projects, where sudden and unregulated water discharge caused widespread damage and panic in areas downstream during the monsoon seasons of 2023 and 2025.
The FIRs cite violations under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which even entail imprisonment. The complaints accuse BBMB officials of failing to implement adequate early warning systems (EWS) despite repeated notices, and ignoring critical safety guidelines issued over the years.
CM slams BBMB in Assembly, demands accountability
Chief Minister Sukhu, addressing the issue in the Assembly, came down heavily on BBMB and neighbouring states, stating that “while the dams lie in Himachal Pradesh, its people are paying the price through devastation and displacement”.
Highlighting the 2023 Pong Dam flood event, he revealed that over Rs 131 crore in damages were reported in Kangra district alone, with 2,500 residents airlifted to safety. This year, he warned, the danger persisted with the BBMB releasing up to 75,000 cusecs from the dam.
Despite years of official communication dating back to 2015 and urging the BBMB to enhance its alarm and notification system, the agency allegedly failed to take corrective measures. The Directorate of Energy’s committee reports, submitted after thorough technical inspections in October 2023, found the BBMB’s safety measures “grossly inadequate”.
The state government has demanded that the BBMB immediately implement the full provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, warning that further non-compliance will invite stricter legal consequences. “The lives of our citizens cannot be compromised for the convenience of downstream beneficiaries in other states,” CM Sukhu asserted.
