Water level in Pong dam to fall short of maximum level

With the filling period of reservoirs almost over, Pong dam will fall short of reaching its maximum level of 1,390 feet while Bhakra will end up with comfortable water by nearly touching its maximum level.
The filling period of Bhakra and Pong dams will end on September 20.
Pong dam today recorded water level of 1,367.58 feet which is 22.42 feet lower than its maximum filling level of 1,390 feet.
Pong reservoir, set up on Beas river, had recorded water level of 1,390.15 feet at the end of filling period last year.
"Water level in Pong dam remained lesser throughout the filling period because of deficient rains in its catchment areas," Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) official said today.

With water level in Pong dam remaining "worrisome" due to "scanty" rains in catchment areas, Bhakra Beas Management Board had even asked three partnering states - Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to draw water "cautiously" in order to save it for the next crop season.

At one stage, the water level in Pong dam was 35 feet lower than that of corresponding period.
However, water level in Bhakra dam has reached comfortable position as it has touched the mark of 1,678.49 feet which is just 1.51 feet lesser than the maximum water the dam can store.
Bhakra dam has the total capacity to store 1,680 feet of water level.

The inflow in Bhakra dam was recorded at 17,830 cusecs as against outflow was 16,663 cusecs.
The water inflow in Pong was 5,705 cusecs while release from dam was 1,501 cusecs, the official informed.
Partnering states get water from Bhakra and Pong dams for various purposes including irrigation.