Make max use of monsoon rains: BBMB asks States

In the wake of around 11 percent deficient monsoon in the catchment areas of Satluj and Beas rivers in Himachal Pradesh and normal rains in Punjab and Haryana, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has asked its partner States to make maximum use of the rain water.

The decision was taken in the high level emergent meeting, called by the BBMB, which was attended by the Principal Secretaries of the partner States, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Chandigarh on Friday, to discuss the critical position of Bhakra and Pong reservoirs.

BBMB apprised the partner States about the “low” storage in Bhakra and Pong reservoirs due to occurrence of around 11 percent deficient monsoon in its catchment areas.

During the meeting, the comparison of inflows and releases from Bhakra and Pong reservoirs, during the current filling period starting from May 21 till date with the last six years as well as driest years of 2004 and 2009 along with the possible future inflows this year up to September 21, 2018, were deliberated in detail.

Keeping in view the low level of water storage in reservoirs and deficient rainfall in catchment areas, BBMB asked partner States to conserve and utilize monsoon water to the maximum possible extent so that water releases from the Bhakra and Pong reservoirs are minimized so as to store water for utilization during the coming depletion period starting from September 21, 2018.

The reservoir level of Pong and Bhakra were recorded lower by 44.18 feet and 63.43 feet on Saturday respectively compared to the water level on the same day last year.

Considering the critical situation, the BBMB is closely monitoring water level in both reservoirs. “The present trend of inflows and releases from the dams are being decided on day-to-day basis after accounting for additional run-off generated at Ropar and Harike headworks, due to monsoon rains from the catchment area downstream of both the dams,” said the BBMB spokesperson.

During the meeting held at BBMB headquarter at Chandigarh, BBMB chairman DK Sharma, requested Punjab’s principal secretary Jaspal Singh, Rajasthan principal secretary Shikhar Agarwal, Haryana’s Engineer-in-Chief Virender Singh, to issue advisory to all the stakeholders to use monsoon rain water optimally and judiciously to the maximum extent to further meet the water demands of these stake holders in coming depletion period starting from September 21, 2018.