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Bhakra and Pong Dams Near Capacity as Floodgates Opened
Heavy rainfall in the upstream territories of Himachal Pradesh has led to the Bhakra and Pong Dams reaching their capacity. In response to the increased water levels, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has opened the floodgates of both dams to release the excess water. The Sutlej and Beas Rivers have experienced a surge in water levels due to torrential rains, causing flooding in low-lying villages in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
The BBMB Secretary, Satish Singla, stated that water release from the floodgates would continue for the next few days to maintain a safe level in the reservoirs. The inflow of water has decreased with a decrease in rainfall, but the water level remains high. The Met Department has predicted no major rainfall activity in the region, allowing for phased water release in the coming days.
The opening of the floodgates has resulted in flood-like situations in Punjab’s Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, Hoshiarpur districts, and Himachal’s Kangra district. Villages have been inundated, affecting agricultural crops. The Bhakra and Pong Dams serve the irrigation requirements of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The Pong Dam reservoir received a record inflow of 7.3 lakh cusecs on August 14, causing a 10-foot rise in water levels. The water level reached approximately 1,400 feet, surpassing its maximum capacity of 1,390 feet. The Bhakra Dam’s Gobind Sagar reservoir reached 1,677 feet.
To ensure safety, the Punjab government has warned residents of five districts to stay away from the Beas riverbanks. Both dams are expected to release excess water for the next few days, even though inflows have started to recede.
The Bhakra project, constructed over the Sutlej River, is a concrete gravity-type dam with a gross storage capacity of 9,621 million cubic meters. The Pong Dam, built on the Beas River, has a reservoir spread over 41 km. Both dams have experienced high water levels and have opened their floodgates.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has assured relief and compensation to those affected by the floods and interacted with a delegation providing donations to the relief fund.
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