With the water level in the Bhakra Dam just 1 ft below the danger mark, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) increased the outflows from the dam by 10,000 cusecs from 75,000 to 85,000 cusecs on Thursday afternoon.
While the water released into the natural riverbed of Satluj is likely to be up to about 70,000 cusecs, the remaining 15,000 cusecs would be released into the Nangal hydel and Anandpur Sahib hydel canals.
The water level in the Pong Dam has gone 4 ft above the maximum capacity, The inflows into the Pong remained at a high of 132,595 cusecs, while the outflows have been restricted at 91,167 cusecs. The maximum storage limit of the Pong Dam was 1,400 feet before 1988. However, after the 1988 floods, it was capped at 1,390 feet.
Also Read: Floods damage 110 km of int'l border fencing in Punjab, Jammu
Ropar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia said the people residing in low-lying areas in and around the Satluj river basin in Nangal and Anandpur Sahib sub-divisions have been asked to move to higher places. NDRF teams have been deployed in Anandpur Sahib and Nangal sub-divisions to tackle any emergency. He said that since the water in the tributaries of the Satluj, including Swan and Sirsa rivers, has decreased, the outflows from the Ropar headworks into the river would remain the same.
Water discharge from the Ranjit Sagar Dam, too, has been increased from 49,172 cusecs to 70,417 cusecs with the reservoir level just 1 ft below the danger mark. The higher discharge of water will lead to more flooding in Ropar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts, which have been put on alert.
Follow us
