Pong Dam floodgates to be opened today

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, August 8

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities have decided to open floodgates of the rain-fed Pong Dam on the Beas river, near Talwara in Himachal Pradesh, tomorrow morning. Due to heavy rain in the catchment area, the level of water in the dam went up to 1,376 feet today, compelling the authorities to open floodgates for the safety of the dam, BBMB sources said.

Up to 50,000 cusec water can be released from the dam, which might affect areas in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The Deputy Commissioners of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Ferozpore, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mansa, Moga and Muktsar in Punjab have been alerted in this regard. A letter issued by the BBMB to the Deputy Commissioners concerned said the volume of water released from the dam could be increased in case of incessant rain.

Today, the dam having a maximum capacity of 1,390 feet registered inflow of 3.57 lakh cusecs, thus taking the water level to 1,376.52 feet. The outflow was 19,200 cusecs only. As per norms, the BBMB has to maintain water level of 1,380 feet till August 15. In view of the heavy inflow, the level of 1,380 feet is likely to be crossed by tomorrow morning, leaving no option for the authorities but to open the floodgates.

The gates would remain open till the water level in the dam did not stop rising, sources said.