DAILY POST
Engineers seek central intervention
YOGINDRA MOHAN

Patiala

All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has demanded intervention of the Union Ministry of Power to immediately stop the spillage from the Pong dam.

Padamjit Singh, chairman of AIPEF said on Tuesday that the spill way gates of Pong dam were opened on August 14 last and the spillage was still continuing.

“The quantum of total releases including generation, from the dam had

increased to above 70000 cusecs and and later on reduced to about 65000 cusecs on August 21, 60000 cusecs on August 24, and presently

the releases are of the order of 30000 cusecs out of which about 18000 is through the Pong power plant while about 12000 cusecs are

still being spilled over the dam,”he said. He said that the full reservoir level of Pong dam is 1400 feet and the dam is designed for a maximum level of 1421 feet, the spillages have taken place when the level was

1388 or lower. AIPEF chief said the trend of inflows is clearly on the declining

side and even then the BBMB is persisting in spillage of water over the Pong dam at a level which is very much lower than 1400 feet.

“There is urgent need for the Bhakhra Beas Management Board to stop the spillage otherwise there is a clear possibility that the Pong dam might not fill up to 1400

feet or 1395 feet. Even from the view point of flood control there is adequate margin at reservoir level of 1384 feet to absorb any unexpected or short duration flood,”he said.

“On the other hand, by keeping the spill way open at this stage an irreversable loss of irrigation and power potential is taking place.This incurring of losses to safeguard against the remote possibility of unprecedented flood is not fair,”he said.