A replica of the Uttarakhand calamity in this part of the region may bring a flood of horror, but the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is doing its bit to save the situation.
It has already issued a warning to the State of Punjab to do the needful to prevent situation from turning worse, as the Bhakra reservoir is already at the highest level in past 40 years.
The BBMB on Wednesday said that in just about eight days, or may be even less, the Bhakra reservoir would swell and reach the level of 1645 feet - when the water would be released in the rivers, Sutlej and Beas in Punjab.
The situation, BBMB said, has turned even more fluid with the presence of encroachments in the river bed. But, the Board has made sure that the land of the rivers remains on surface despite the heavy rains and the high melting of snow.
“Water level in Bhakra and Pong reservoirs is exceptionally high this season owing to heavy snowfall and rainfall in the catchment areas of Sutlej and Beas rivers. Water level in Bhakra, as on date, is the highest in last 40 years,” said BBMB chairman AB Agrawal.
Agarwal asserted that the Board has already alerted Punjab that it would be releasing “excess water” in the coming days into the rivers.
On Wednesday, the water level in Bhakra dam was recorded at 1629.87 feet, just above 15 feet from the level of spillage. Notably, in a week’s time from previous Wednesday, the water level in Bhakra has recorded an increase of 12.15 feet.
“We had a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister on July 5 to apprise him of the situation in Bhakra. We again had a meeting a day before, in which Deputy Commissioners concerned have been asked to ensure evacuation of people from the encroachment and take other preventive measures, besides identifying flooding zones,” said Agarwal.
“We have a cushion in dam up to 1640 feet. Till that level, there is no spillage. We have decided to release water after leaching the level of 1,645 feet,” he said, adding that there was no cause of concern in case of Pong.
The water levels as on Wednesday is 1,629.87 feet in Bhakra and 1,340.68 feet in Pong dam, which are 84 feet and 48 feet higher, respectively, in comparison to the previous year on the same day. “The water level of Bhakra is higher by 24 feet in comparison to 2011 but that of Pong is still 13 feet lower in comparison to 2011,” he said.
Expressing serious concern over the encroachments in river beds of Satluj and Beas, Agarwal said that it could restrict the “free flow of excess” water in these rivers.
“Over a period of time, people have encroached downstream. Colonies have been constructed, farm houses are there. We fear that it could restrict the free flow of excess water,” said Agarwal, adding that encroachments are in all districts from where Sutlej and Beas passes.
At the same time, Agarwal assured that the water would be released in a regulated fashion. “I assure that we will try to release water in such a regulated way that there is no flooding. But there is a word of caution if any situation like Uttarakhand happened, BBMB or any other organisations in the world will be helpless,” he said.
He said the water level in Bhakra is expected to cross 1,645 feet-mark in next seven-eight days. “Considering the quantity of inflows, the water would be released,” he said.
He pointed out that the inflows of over two lakh cusecs of water in a single day may cause an increase in water level up to nine feet or more.
On an average, Bhakra’s water level is witnessing an increase of 1.5 feet everyday in the past one week. ReasonIJ Heavy snow melting, which is maximum in the last 23 years, and early monsoons.
“The snow melt, which is 50 per cent more than the actual this season and early monsoon, has resulted in an increase of 27 per cent in water inflows. Never in June, Bhakra has received such a high level of inflows,” Agarwal told The Pioneer.
The inflow of water in Bhakra Dam reservoirs has been recorded to be above 70,000 cusecs, while in the Pong dam reservoir, the inflow has crossed the one-lakh-cusec mark.
Pouring out measures, Agarwal maintained that BBMB is closely monitoring the situation. Also, the senior officers from partner states were meeting every alternate week besides regular meeting for taking the decision for regulated spills.
“Routine flood warnings has already been issued to the states. Still, more warnings in all such cases would be issued in anticipation and deputy commissioners of respective districts would be apprised if some alert is to be declared,” he added.
What’s more, the BBMB is also in regular contact with the Indian Meteorological Department for forecasts for the filling of reservoirs. “The filling period will go up to September 20. We have entire monsoon period ahead, and it has been witnessed in past few years, that rains are heavily in September,” he added.
The reservoirs of both dams are filled between May and September every year. In the 225-metre high Bhakra Dam, the maximum capacity is maintained at 1,680-feet. It may be mentioned here that the release of water from Bhakra dam had led to flooding in large parts of Punjab in 1988.
Punjab Govt increases vigil along river, canal embankments
In the wake of warning from the Bhakra Beas management Board (BBMB) on Wednesday regarding release of excess water from the dam, Punjab government has increased vigil along the river and canal embankments in view of the monsoon.
BBMB had warned Punjab about release of “excess water” into the Satluj and Beas rivers over the next few days as the water level in Bhakra dam had reached an all-time high.
Issuing instructions, Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon has instructed the Chief Engineers of all wings of the department to depute SDOs and JEs at the sensitive places, whereas mates and baildars would be deputed to guard the river and canal embankments round the clock.
Sekhon said that to have a close look on the probable flood situation, the Punjab Government has already constituted a state level flood control room which would work overnight during the emergency situation. Besides, district and sub divisional level flood control room are also active.
Sekhon said that he along with the senior officials of the department would also visit and monitor all the drainage sites, where the flood works were on and if any laxity found, stern action would be taken against the erring officers. The Minister instructed the Chief Engineer to apprise him about the progress made in this regard on daily basis.
Sekhon has also appealed the public not to panic as the irrigation department is fully prepared for any eventuality.