Won't immediately release water from Bhakra dam, say officials

Bhakra dam officials today said they would not be immediately releasing "excess" water into the Satluj and Beas rivers as the level in the reservoir did not call for such a measure to be taken just yet.
"We will not go for release of excess water at this moment as the water level in the dam has still not crossed the targeted level," a senior Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) official said here today.
He was speaking after a meeting of BBMB officials and representatives of the partner states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan reviewed the situation on water release.

Water level in Bhakra dam, which lies across Sutlej river, today reached 1,647.87ft, up by 77.97ft against the level recorded in the corresponding period last year.
BBMB has set 1,650ft as the targeted level for the reservoir, which is expected to be reached in a day or two.
The official said that the water situation was normal in the Bhakra and Pong dams due to "reduced" water inflows. Pong dam stands on the Beas.

"Water inflow at both dams has come down over the past few days due to lesser rainfall in the catchment areas; therefore, there is no need to worry," he added.

Water level in Pong dam was today at 1,362.70ft, 66.19ft higher than where it had been on the same day last year.
Bhakra and Pong dams are to be filled to a level of 1,680ft and 1,390 ft, respectively, by September this year.
BBMB Chairman AB Agrawal had on July 10 warned Punjab government about the release of "excess" water into the Satluj and the Beas in the wake of "heavy" inflows of water.