Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
With the arrival of the monsoon just weeks away, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has expressed concern over the rising water level in the Bhakra Dam reservoir and urged all partner states, including Punjab and Haryana, to utilize their allocated share of water.
According to BBMB, the water level at the Bhakra reservoir has reached 1,578.07 feet, which is around 21.47 feet higher than the corresponding level last year. Officials said the increase, coupled with intense summer heat and the approaching monsoon, requires careful management to prevent future flooding.
Punjab has already submitted its water demand, while BBMB has advised both Punjab and Haryana to make full use of their water quota, especially as the paddy cultivation season is underway.
The board noted that adequate storage space must be created in the Govind Sagar Reservoir to accommodate heavy monsoon rainfall and water from melting snow in the Himalayan region. If the reservoir remains nearly full and sudden inflows occur during the monsoon, downstream areas could face a heightened flood risk.
To avoid such a situation, BBMB believes that releasing and utilizing water in advance is a prudent step to ensure safe reservoir operations during the rainy season.
