Chandigarh, August 16, 2019: District administration Ropar has alerted villages in the district after the water outflow from Bhakra Dam increased from 36,000 cusecs to 53,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) due to heavy rain in the catchment area of Satluj river.
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) opens floodgates when the water level reaches 1,670 feet in Bhakra Dam reservoir. The last time the reservoir gates were in 2010.
Last week, in a meeting of BBMB technical board, which was also attended by representatives from partner states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, it was decided not to maintain water beyond the level of 1,680 feet.
On August 13, the water inflow into the reservoir was 57,000 cusecs. To keep the level in check, BBMB increased water outflow from 20,000 cusecs to 31,615 cusecs.
BBMB engineers say it is a good thing that increased inflow of water will enhance the production of electricity as they have a spare 157-MW turbine which they can restart. However, increased inflow of water can be dangerous say the engineers as they have a limited holding capacity and if water crosses that limit, they have to release it and this water can wreak havoc downstream.