BBMB seeks states’ nod for Nangal canal repair

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has sought permission from partner states to close down the Nangal hydel canal for repairs following damage at 13 places in recent rains, sources have said.

The BBMB looks after the Bhakra, Nangal and Pong dams. Its partner states are Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh that share Beas and Sutlej waters.

The Nangal hydel canal runs for 64 km from Nangal to Ropar and thereafter joins the Bhakra main line canal, which takes the Sutlej waters to the partner states.

In case the partner states allow the closure of the hydel canal, the water supply from the Bhakra Dam projects to Haryana and Rajasthan will be disrupted.

‘Work to take at least 25 days’

A source said the BBMB urged the partner states to allow the closure of the hydel canal as it needed urgent repairs. A senior official requesting anonymity said the real assessment of damage could be possible only after it was completely closed.

“In case the partner states allow, even if the repair work is conducted day and night, it would take at least 25 days to repair the canal,” he said.

‘Bhakra canal in poor shape’

Several sources said the real challenge would be the repair of the Bhakra main line canal as it was in “poorer shape” than the hydel canal.

They said generally the life of concrete lined canals was 40 to 45 years.

However, due to quality construction and regular upkeep, the hydel canal remained operational continuously for 71 years since its inception in 1954, they opined. A source said the release of water into the canal had not stopped even for a day in the past 71 years.

Highly placed sources told The Tribune that at some places even the concrete pavement of the canal was damaged, prompting the BBMB authorities to reduce the water discharge into it from about 12,000 cusecs to about 9,000.