Worst apprehensions of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) are coming true. Incessant rains have compelled the Board to release water from the Pong Dam which is now flowing about 13-feet below its maximum capacity.
Till now, the BBMB authorities were keeping a close vigil on the water level of the Bhakra Dam. But, the incessant rains in Pong Dam's catchment area leading to massive water inflow have coerced the BBMB to release water in the Beas river. In case the rains continue, the water may reach the maximum mark in the near future.
But, the BBMB has clarified that there was nothing to worry as the release of water would not affect the inhabited area along the banks. "A total of 30,000 cusecs of excess water has been discharged through the spillways from Pong into Beas river. No releases have been made from the Bhakra considering that its water level is still well under control," a senior BBMB official told The Pioneer. The official also made it clear that the water release up to 50,000 cusecs is expected not to cause flooding in downstream areas.
The situation has now forced the BBMB authorities to keep tabs on the water level of both Bhakra and Pong dams. "We are monitoring the water situation not just in the Bhakra, but also in the Pong now," added the official. In case the inflows into the Pong dam remain more than 60,000 cusecs, "we have to release excess water between 30,000 to 60,000 cusecs", said the official. It was for the first time in the recallable past that the BBMB authorities were forced to spill water in early August. Commonly, the releases were made during the end of the August and September.
It was informed that the spillways had earlier been opened in 2010 for the first time in 15 years when the water level had touched 1,394.25 feet in Pong. The water level of the Pong on Wednesday was recorded above 1377 feet, against the optimum level of 1390 feet - which was generally filled by September 20. The water level in Bhakra reservoir touched the level of 1,652.94 feet.
"The Pong's water level has witnessed an alarming rise owing to incessant rains in its catchment areas since Monday…the dam received 3.65 lakh cusecs water on Tuesday that actually forced us to release excess water in Beas, the official added. The BBMB authorities released 19,000 cusecs of excess water on Tuesday, while 11,000 cusecs was released on Wednesday. To monitor the situation considering heavy inflows, the BBMB has also convened a meeting of the partner states, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.