Some areas of Punjab have been put on alert as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has decided to release excess water from the Pong Dam on Wednesday. At the same time, the authorities concede have made it clear that the “alert” was sounded as a precautionary measure and there was “no need to panic”.
After 72-hour incessant rains in mid-August that battered the State coupled with release of surplus water by the BBMB resulted in floods in several villages. Now, with the decision to release excess water from the Pong Dam, a flood-like situation may be created in parts of Punjab.
The water level of the Pong Dam, located on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, was recorded at 1,385.47 feet on Monday at 6 am. The Technical Committee meeting, held on Monday, has decided that the Pong reservoir should not be filled beyond 1,387 feet against its capacity of 1,390 feet.
BBMB authorities have decided to release a total of about 26,000 cusecs water from the Pong reservoir by opening its spillways from September 4 in place of 12,000 cusecs
being presently released through turbines.
The decision has been conveyed to the authorities concerned in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab while asking them to give required and appropriate instructions to its respective Irrigation, Drainage and Civil authorities to take necessary action accordingly.
BBMB official told The Pioneer that the inflows to the Pong reservoir are being recorded at 30,000 cusecs.
“As of now, about 12,000 cusecs is being released through turbines. As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast good rains in the coming days, the reservoir is expected to receive more inflows and its level is likely to reach 1,387 feet in two days. Considering this, we have decided to release more water,” said the BBMB official, assuring that there was “no need to panic”.
In the wake of the decision, Hoshiarpur Deputy Commiss-ioner Isha Kalia on Tuesday visited the Pong Dam to review the water level, besides holding meetings with the BBMB and the district authorities.
“BBMB has decided to release 26,000 cusecs water from Pong Dam on Wednesday. However, the releasing of water would not create flood-like conditions in the district,” she said.
She said as a precautionary measure, a district level control room has been set up with number 01882-220412, besides control room number 1883-285024 of Dasuya sub-division and control room number 01883-246214 of the Mukerian sub-division. The DC assured that all arrangements have been made by the district administration to deal in case of any flood situation, and teams have been deployed by dividing the district into various sectors.
