As floods are looming large on Punjab with the prediction of “heavy to very heavy rains” from Tuesday in Himachal Pradesh, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authority is on its toes.
It is keeping a close vigil at the water levels of Bhakra Dam which has already touched 1,634-feet-mark on Monday — just 11 feet down to the spillage level.
If this is not enough, Bhakra’s water level is witnessing an average increase of one foot everyday in the past one week — that too at a time when the Catchment area of the Bhakra reservoir is not witnessing any rains. On the other hand, Punjab Government has also swung into action and is claiming to be “all-prepared” for any flood-like situation.
“The water level has declined in most of the rivers that were in spate. But the Meteorological Department has predicted that the southwestern monsoon will be active again in the region from Tuesday,” a senior BBMB official, requesting anonymity, told The Pioneer.
As of now, the water level in Sutlej, Beas and Yamuna rivers and their tributaries has receded.
“We are keeping a close tab on the water levels. Already, a general warning has been issued to the State of Punjab, to take stock of the situation and clear, if any, encroachments from the course of the rivers, especially Sutlej. We are all prepared,” said the official.
BBMB chairman AB Agarwal had already stated that the water would be released, in a regulated manner, from the Bhakra dam when it would reach the level of 1,645 feet — a mark set by the BBMB to check the water level.
“We were expecting water to reach the 1,645-feet level by Thursday or before, but as the rains eluded this part of the region, especially Himachal, the situation is well under control,” added the official.
Since previous week, the water level in Bhakra and Pong reservoirs was exceptionally high 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, which is 74.78 feet more than the previous year on the corresponding day.
On Monday, the water level in Bhakra Dam was recorded at 1,634.32 feet, just above short of 11 feet from the level of spillage. Notably, in a week’s time from previous Monday, the water level in Bhakra has recorded an increase of 8.18 feet, while since past week, it recorded 12.15 feet increase.
The water level as on Monday is 1,342.03 feet in Pong dam, which is 49.43 feet higher in comparison to the previous year on the same day.
BBMB has attributed the high water levels to the heavy snow melting, and early monsoons. “The snow melt, which is 50 per cent more than the actual this season, and is maximum in the past 23 years have contributed a lot in the reservoirs levels. In addition, early monsoons are also responsible. It has resulted in an increase of 27 per cent in water inflows. Bhakra has never received such high level of water in June,” added BBMB official.
The inflow of water in Bhakra Dam reservoirs on Monday was recorded at 48,604 cusecs, while in the Pong dam reservoir, the inflows are 14,917 cusecs owing to no rains.
Punjab Irrigation Department official said, “We have increased vigil at all river embankments, have also alerted people to remain prepared for such a situation. The work of strengthening river embankments and bridges in the flood prone area is undergoing.”
Already, the State Government has provided all deputy commissioners with Rs10 lakh each for flood relief activities. In addition, control rooms, at districts and State-level have also been set up.
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.