The dams in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are under threat from militants allegedly being imparted specific training in Pakistan for the purpose. The Ministry of Home Affairs has sounded an alert and also issued directions to take precautionary measures. At a recent meeting of the internal security wing of the MHA with the representatives of various state police forces,the issue of Punjab government deploying private security at Thein Dam also came up for discussion. The ministry reportedly questioned the rationale of deploying private security at such a sensitive place. Sources said Punjab Police officers were told that terrorists were being trained across the border in underwater warfare,especially in dam water,as they were allegedly being trained to destroy the dams across in India,mainly those in Punjab and Himachal. According to intelligence reports,members of the group training the militants are also active in this part of the border and have been spotted here. The officials were told that they should take precautionary measures,especially at Bhakra-Nangal,Pong and Thein dams,as they are the most vulnerable ones. The MHA has directed the states and the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) that divers should be put into operation and they should regularly check any activity happening under water. At present,these divers are used for specific purposes,such as in case of any vehicle falling down or drowning incidents. Also,no movement area should be notified along all these dams, said an official who did not wish to be named. Sources said the ministry also directed that Sonar systems be installed at the dams so that any underwater movement could be detected and action taken. Besides,they said,a 80-foot deep and 150-foot wide fence should be fixed a few feet from the dam wall at Bhakra and other places so that in case of an underwater strike,the attacker would not be able to make it to the dam. The reservoir area should also be fenced,they said,adding that if there were villages around,the people living there would be verified. It was also proposed in the meeting that while the security in-charge at the BBMB is a deputy superintendent of police-level officer,the post should be upgraded to the rank of deputy inspector general for better coordination with other state police forces, said an officer. On private security at Thein Dam,the state police told the MHA that before the irrigation department invited tenders and hired a Delhi-based private security firm to deploy security there,the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Security Corporation use to guard the dam and these people had been given arms by the Punjab Police and were also declared special police officers. The sources said the MHA would soon write to the state government asking it to change the security firm at the vital Thein Dam.
