Chandigarh:
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Tuesday discharged 15,000 cusecs of water from the Pong dam for the first time in the monsoon season following heavy inflow of water caused by rains.
"We have released 15,000 cusecs of water from Pong dam on Tuesday to contain the rising water level in the dam," BBMB Member (Irrigation), M K Gupta said.
The water level in the Pong dam touched 1,394 feet on Monday, which was the highest in this season following heavy rainfall in its catchment areas.
"We allowed to raise water level by 4 feet in the Pong dam on Monday because of heavy rains but now we have to cut down its level to keep a margin of 5 to 7 feet for flood moderation by releasing the water through its spillways," he said.
The inflow of water into Pong reservoir had gone up sharply to 1.80 lakh cusecs on Monday.
The inflow on Tuesday dropped to 70,000 cusecs, he said.
In a review meeting held by Irrigation departments of Punjab and BBMB, it was decided that the maximum water level in the Pong dam shall be taken up to 1,395 feet from earlier agreed level of 1,390 feet because of heavy rains.
"Beyond 1,395 feet, the reservoir level will be fluctuating for flood routing only depending upon the exigency," he said.
BBMB has also been releasing 38,000 cusecs of water from Bhakra reservoir, though the inflow of water into the dam remained at comfortable level.
"We are releasing 34,000 cusecs from turbines and 4,000 cusecs from spillway gates," he said.
Neighbouring states, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, had agreed to keep the water level in Bhakra at 1,380 feet. The level of 1,680 feet of Bhakra is stipulated level to which the reservoir could be filled and the capacity between 1680 and 1690 feet is kept reserved for flood absorption.