Chandigarh, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Water Resources and Mining & Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Thursday dismissed concerns over the structural safety of the Bhakra Dam, asserting that the dam is completely safe and that there is no cause for public concern.
Speaking during Zero Hour in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Goyal said recent reports regarding movement in the dam had created unnecessary panic. He clarified that the observed movement is part of the dam’s engineering design and does not indicate any structural weakness.
The minister described the Bhakra Dam as one of the world’s finest engineering structures, adding that it has been appreciated by experts from several countries for its design and construction standards.
He explained that the dam is designed to undergo slight movement when subjected to increased water pressure and return to its original position once the pressure subsides. According to him, the reported movement of 1.03 inches falls well within permissible engineering limits.
Goyal informed the House that similar movement had been recorded 15 times between 1995 and 2025, with the structure returning to its original position on each occasion without any safety concerns.
Addressing concerns over silt accumulation, he said the deposited silt is located around 12 kilometres upstream of the dam wall and has no impact on the structure’s stability. While acknowledging that nearly 26 per cent silt accumulation has reduced the reservoir’s storage capacity, he maintained that it does not compromise the dam’s safety.
He said desilting falls under the responsibility of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Union Government. The Punjab Government, he added, has consistently raised the issue during BBMB meetings and has recently written to both the BBMB and the Centre, urging them to undertake desilting operations to restore the reservoir’s storage capacity.
Punjab’s Mining Revenue Crosses ₹825 Crore
Responding to criticism over mining, Goyal said Punjab has emerged as the country’s top-performing state in mining reforms.
He stated that mining revenue, which stood at around ₹120 crore under previous governments, has risen to over ₹825 crore during the current financial year under the Bhagwant Mann-led government.
According to the minister, Punjab has secured the top position in its category in the Centre’s assessment of mining reforms and has received a ₹200 crore appreciation award from the Government of India for improving transparency and resource management.
He reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining, stating that prompt action, including registration of FIRs, is taken whenever violations are detected.
Potash, Gold and Oil Exploration Underway
The minister said the state is also focusing on unlocking Punjab’s untapped mineral resources.
He noted that despite the discovery of potash deposits in Punjab in 1989, previous governments failed to pursue exploration seriously. Following repeated representations by the state government, the Centre sanctioned around ₹19 crore for detailed exploration, with drilling now underway at 10 additional locations.
Preliminary assessments by central agencies have shown encouraging prospects for potash, which could help reduce India’s dependence on imports if commercially viable reserves are established.
Goyal also said geological surveys have indicated the presence of gold-bearing zones in Punjab, particularly along the Siswan and Budki rivers. Historical reports of the Geological Survey of India had recorded encouraging gold values, and modern exploration techniques are now being used to assess the commercial potential of these deposits.
In addition, he informed the House that oil and hydrocarbon exploration is progressing in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda and Faridkot districts, with the Punjab Government extending full administrative support to central exploration agencies.
The minister further claimed that Punjab could have generated significantly higher mining revenue if the Union Government had extended timely support for the development of the state’s mineral resources, referring to earlier estimates made by Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
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