Low water level in dams may hit power generation, irrigation needs
The water level in dams in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh is significantly lower this year compared to the same period last year, as per the latest Central Water Commission (CWC) report of February 6.
“The low water level in Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD), Bhakra Dam and Pong Dam reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab is a cause for concern as it may affect irrigation and power generation requirements for Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan,” said a former Chief Engineer with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. “Punjab depends a lot on hydropower generation throughout the year, especially in summers,” he added.
Last month, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) asked the member states to exercise caution while projecting their demand for water. Rain and snow in Himachal Pradesh and adjoining areas of Tibet are crucial for water inflow into the reservoirs at the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej and Pong Dam on the Beas in Himachal Pradesh.
The commission monitors four major reservoirs in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab that together have a capacity of 14.819 billion cubic metres (BCM). Currently, these reservoirs have only 3.826 BCM water, which is 25.8 per cent of their total storage capacity. The storage during the corresponding period last year was 6.357 BCM (42.9 per cent). The normal storage of these four reservoirs is 6.840 BCM during the corresponding period.
The CWC report further states that the storage in the only reservoir in Punjab (Ranjit Sagar reservoir) is just 16 per cent of the “full reservoir level” (FRL) against last year’s storage level of 26 per cent and normal average of 38 per cent during the corresponding period.
According to the daily report, Ranjit Sagar Dam level is 493.19 m (1,617.7 feet) and it is down by 24 feet against last year’s water level of 500.34 m (1,641.4 feet) on February 8.
The water in the Bhakra reservoir is 1,593.3 feet and this is 15 feet less than the corresponding level of 1,608.25 feet last year. At the Pong Dam, the water level is 1,306 feet, which is 40 feet down than that on the same day last year.
“At present, the discharge of water from reservoirs is more than the inflow. The situation is likely to improve in April-May after snow starts melting. Power generation at Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams may be affected due to low water level,” said a senior official.
