M A I N   N E W S

Bhakra at 1,630 ft, BBMB warns of controlled release
Sarbjit Dhaliwal/TNS

Chandigarh, July 10
As the level in Bhakra Dam touched 1,630 feet, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) today said the water would not be allowed to cross the 1,650 feet-mark in July and warned of “controlled” release of water to maintain the preferred level.

Board chairman AB Agrawal said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and state government officials had been apprised of the situation and were being kept in the loop. He said after the floods in 1988, it was decided to maintain the water level at 1,650 foot in Bhakra dam till the end of July and up to 1,680 feet in September.

About 35,000 cusecs water is being released from the dam at present. Of this, about 25,000 cusecs is flowing in two canals and the remaining into the Sutlej. Controlled release means that in addition to the release of 35,000 cusecs, an equal or little more quantity of water may be released from the dam.

Due to exceptionally high inflow of water because of heavy rain in the hills over the past few days, the level of water in Bhakra and Pong dams has risen rapidly. The level of water in Bhakra Dam is 84 feet higher than the corresponding period last year. However, compared to the corresponding period of 2011, the level is 24 feet higher.

In Pong Dam, the water was at 1340.68 feet on Wednesday, which is 48 feet higher than this day last year. However, it is 13 feet lower compared to this day in 2011. By the end of the filling season in September, Pong Dam would be filled up to 1,390 feet.

Early this week, the inflow of water in Bhakra Dam touched 2 lakh cusecs for two days, sources said. Yesterday, it was in the range of 71,000 cusecs. The level in the dam rises 7 feet a day in case of inflow of 2 lakh cusecs. As the snow-melt in the catchment areas of Sutlej is the highest in 23 years this year, it has added to inflow.

To keep a watch on increasing water levels, senior officers of partner states have been holding regular meeting to decide for regulated spills. “Routine flood warnings have been issued and more warnings would be issued in anticipation. The deputy commissioners of respective districts would be apprised if some alert is to be issued,” said Agrawal. The BBMB is also keeping tabs on the IMD’s weather forecast.

However, what is bothering authorities is the decreasing water-carrying capacity downstream of the Sutlej (in which the water from the dam is released). At one point, the Sutlej could carry about 3-4 lakh cusecs, but now it can carry only about 2 lakh cusecs, sources said. Chief Engineer (Drainage) Vinod Chaudhary said he had given a proposal to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to de-silt the Sutlej at certain places.

“Some rivulets flowing into the Sutlej from Himachal Pradesh have been bringing a lot of silt. Certain stretches of the river have silted up and this needs to be taken care of,” he said.

On preparedness, Chaudhary said, “All bundhs along the Sutlej have been strengthened. We have completed all drainage works required to take care of floods.”

Asked about encroachments in the river and the use of its bed for agricultural purpose at some places, another senior officer of the Drainage Department said there was a need to remove such encroachments and to stop farming in the riverbed as these could restrict the free flow of excess water in these rivers.