Bhakra to release more water into Punjab as Pong dam hits full capacity

The BBMB will increase the outflows from the Bhakra Dam by 10,000 cusecs on Thursday afternoon. It will increase the outflows from the Bhakra Dam from 75,000 cusecs to 85,000 cusecs.

The BBMB authorities are being forced to increase the outflows as the water level in the Bhakra Dam increased to 1,678.97 feet, which is just one foot away from the maximum level of 1,680 feet.

The maximum storage limit of the Bhakra can go up to 1,985 feet; however, after the 1988 floods, it was capped at 1,680 feet.

The inflows into the Bhakra at 6 am on Thursday were 95,435 cusecs, while the outflows were 75,000 cusecs. However, due to continued increased inflows and the dam's storage capacity reaching its optimum level, the BBMB authorities have informed the Ropar administration that they will release 85,000 cusecs of water from the dam in the afternoon.

This would mean that the water released into the Sutlej's natural riverbed is likely to be up to about 70,000 cusecs, while the remaining 15,000 cusecs would be released into the Nangal hydel and Anandpur Sahib hydel canals.

The water level in the Pong Dam is also rising. It reached 1,394.51 feet, more than 4 feet above the maximum storage limit of 1,390 feet set for the dam. The inflows into the Pong remained at a high of 132,595 cusecs, while the outflows have been restricted at 91,167 cusecs. The maximum storage limit of the Pong Dam was 1,400 feet before 1988. However, after the 1988 floods, it was capped at 1,390 feet.

Ropar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said the people residing in low-lying areas in and around the Sutlej river basin in Nangal and Anandpur Sahib sub-divisions have been asked to move to higher places as increased inflows might enter their habitations. NDRF teams have been deployed in Anandpur Sahib and Nangal sub-divisions to tackle any emergency.

He said the water in the tributaries of the Sutlej, including the Swan and Sirsa rivers, has decreased, so the outflows from the Ropar headworks into the Sutlej would remain the same at about 1 lakh cusecs.

Therefore, the people living downstream from Ropar headworks need not panic as the situation is under control, the deputy commissioner said.

Ranjit Sagar Dam

Water discharge from the Ranjit Sagar Dam, too, has been increased from 49,172 cusecs on Wednesday evening to 70,417 cusecs.

The water level in the reservoir here is close to the danger mark of 527.91 metres, at 526.97 metres.

Though the rains in Punjab are scattered on Thursday, the higher discharge of water would mean more flooding and areas along these two rivers - Ropar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Ferozepur and Fazilka - are on high alert.

Meanwhile, information available with The Tribune shows that the water level in the Ghaggar at Bhankarpur, Sarala, Khanauri and Sardulgarh remains very high.