To hold a meeting with partnering States — Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan — next week
Concerned over the “low” water levels of Pong dam’s reservoir, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Tuesday decided to hold a meeting with the partnering States — Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan — next week.
The crucial meeting would decide on curtailing the water release to the partner States from the reservoir which stood at 31.60 feet lower than the previous year’s level of 1369.12 feet at this time.
To deal with the situation, the BBMB is closely monitoring not only the water levels but also the weather conditions. Bhakra and Pong dams serve the irrigation requirements of the States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
In the wake of deficient rains so far in the catchment area of the reservoir, the water level of in the Pong dam has remained low, giving a cause of worry for the BBMB and the partnering States.
On the other hand, the water level in Bhakra dam has witnessed improvement. It stood at a level of 1655.14 feet — 3.71 feet higher than the previous year’s figure of 1651.43 feet.
“Pong is the major point of concern for us…We have alerted the States about possibility of cutting down the water releases if the situation continues. …Considering the future requirements and low water levels in Pong dam, we will take a final call on cutting down the water supply to the States in consultation with them,” a senior BBMB official told The Pioneer.
The official said that the current water level in Pong dam is “worrisome” as the rains, during the past 24 hours, in several parts of the northern region, have not brought any relief as far as water level in Pong’s reservoir is concerned.
“The catchment area of the Pong dam, which is set up on Beas river, has not received rains…and the inflows were recorded at 25,815 cusecs (cubic feet per second), against 38,102 cusecs on the same day the previous year,” said the official. Pong’s water level on Tuesday stood at 1,337.52 feet.
The official explained that the water level in Bhakra dam has witnessed increase because of snow melting and rains in its catchment area.
The inflows to Bhakra’s reservoir was recorded at 48,733 cusecs, against 44,727 cusecs on the corresponding day the previous last year; while the outflow of water was 25,500 cusecs against previous year’s 35,791 cusecs.
It was informed that the water levels in both Bhakra and Pong had remained low during previous year, but improved later on.
The BBMB officials have expressed faith that situation will improve in the coming days, as still more than a month left for filling season.
The filling period starts with the onset of monsoon, around May 20, and ends in the last week of September.
“The water level in Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi river touched 1709.8 feet mark, which is 16.92-feet higher than the water level recorded previous year on the same day,” said the Punjab Irrigation department spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that the inflow of water in Ranjit Sagar Dam is 14198 cusecs against 15101 cusecs and release from Ranjit Sagar Dam is 16908 cusecs against 6825 cusecs release on the same day last year.
He said that water level of Madhopur Head Works has been recorded at 15,859 cusecs against 6,502 cusecs on the same day last year.