The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has warned its partnering states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan about water levels running low in Bhakra and Pong dam reservoirs.
The board also asked the states, who depend on the dams for their water needs, to make the best use of monsoon season for irrigation and other purposes.
BBMB had called a high level meeting with the principal secretaries of partner states here yesterday to discuss the critical position of the two reservoirs, a statement issued by the board said here today.
BBMB apprised them about the low storage in the reservoirs and informed them about the occurrence of around 11 per cent deficient monsoon in catchment area of Satluj and Beas river in Himachal and normal rains in Punjab and Haryana, it added.
"The comparison of inflows and releases from Bhakra & Pong reservoirs during the current filling period starting from 21st May till yesterday with the last six years as well as with those of the driest years of 2004 and 2009 alongwith the possible future inflows this year upto September 21, 2018 were deliberated in detail," it said.
Keeping in view the low level of water storage in reservoirs and deficient rainfall in catchment area, BBMB asked the states to conserve and utilise monsoon water to the maximum possible extent so that water releases from the two reservoirs are minimised to store water for utilization during the coming depletion period starting from September 21, 2018.
"As on date (yesterday), reservoir level of Pong and Bhakra are lower by 44.18 feet and 63.43 feet respectively compared to the water level on the same day last year."
"Considering the critical situation, BBMB is closely monitoring water level in both reservoirs, the present trend of inflows and releases from the dams are being decided on day to day basis after accounting for the additional run-off generated at Ropar and Harike headworks, due to monsoon rains from the catchment area downstream of both the dams," it said.
In the meeting, D K Sharma, Chairman, BBMB asked the states to issue advisories to all stake holders asking them to use available monsoon rain water optimally and judiciously.
Notably, the water inflow has been lesser this year because of decrease in snow melting caused by low temperatures prevailing over upper Himalayas, a BBMB official had said earlier.
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