UT again opens Sukhna flood gate after water level reaches near danger mark

Tribune News Service  

Chandigarh, August 14

One of the three floodgates of Sukhna Lake was on Saturday opened at 1 pm after its water level reached near the danger mark of 1,163 feet. 

Due to rain in the city and catchment area of the lake, the water level reached 1,162.7 feet, just 5 inches below the danger mark.

An official of the UT Engineering Department said the gate would be closed after the water level came down to nearly a foot in the lake. 

Earlier this week on Monday, the department had to open the gate for nearly 1.15 hour when the water level had reached 1,162.5 feet.

The two floodgates had to be opened in August last year after the water level of the lake had crossed the danger mark. Before this, on September 24, 2018, incessant rain in the catchment area had forced officials to open two flood gates of the lake. At that time, the gates were opened after a gap of 10 years.  

After opening of the floodgates, the Sukhna Choe carries the excess water of the lake to the Ghaggar river. 

Last year, the floodgates were opened when the water level had reached 1,163.4 feet and gush of water led to flooding in the Baltana area of Mohali district. To avoid repeat of such a situation, the department had decided to release water in small amounts, said sources in the department.