Bhakra level low due to less snow melt
May affect kharif crop in partner states; BBMB says position comfortable
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 8
A prolonged cold spell may have fattened the wheat grain in Punjab and Haryana, ensuring better yield, but it has also resulted in less snow melt and fewer inflows into the Bhakra dam which may affect the kharif crop of the partner states in case of a delay in the monsoon.

Restricted snow melt is bad news for the dam as it contributes more than 50 per cent of the inflows received from the catchment areas of the Sutlej. If inflows do not match the outflows, the dam might not be able to release optimum water during the peak of summer. The inflow into the Bhakra dam was measured at 5,000 cusecs today against 6,400 cusecs the same day last year.

Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman AB Agrawal maintained that the partner states were being supplied water as per their demand and that the authorities were confident that they would remain comfortable during the depletion period of the dam.

He, however, admitted that the level of the dam was lower (1,549 ft) than that of last year (1,580 ft) as of today. He said this was mainly because of an increase in the demand from the partner states.

The BBMB Chairman said the dam level was still comfortable as there was scope to reduce it to 1,506 ft till May 20. He said similarly at the Pong Dam, though the present level of 1,323 ft was less than that of last year (1,348 ft), there was scope to take it down till 1,290 ft.

Agrawal disclosed that share of the partner states in power allocation from the Bhakra powerhouse had been redrawn following directions of the apex court. He said Punjab's share had been reduced from 54.5 per cent to 51.8 per cent. The state's share from Dehar and Pong powerhouses had been reduced from 60 per cent of the total power produced to 51.8 per cent, he added.

The chairman said the BBMB had generated 12,491 million units against the target of 10,023 million units, which was 25 per cent more than the target fixed by the central electrical authority. He said this year also, the target of 10,023 million units had been fixed, but the BBMB expected to surpass it.

Taking a hit

Restricted snow melt is bad news for the dam as it contributes more than 50 per cent of the inflows from the catchment areas of the Sutlej

If inflows do not match the outflows, the dam might not be able to release optimum water during the peak of summer

The inflow into the Bhakra dam was measured at 5,000 cusecs on Tuesday against 6,400 cusecs the same day last year

The level is low because of an increase in the demand from the partner states. It is still comfortable as there is scope to reduce it further to 1,506 ft. We hope there will be no problem during the depletion period of the dam