Bhakra and RSD reservoir levels may not peak

PATIALA: The reservoir levels as on today in Bhakra Dam , Ranjit Sagar Dam and Pong Dam are lower as compared to last year and may not peak this year. The southwest monsoon is expected to slow again through August and September, as per IMD report. El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months, which will weigh negatively on the monsoon’s second half. The Punjab got -9.21 less than average rainfall , while HP got 10.83 less than average rainfall.
The water level in Bhakra reservoir is 1600.5 feet down by 21.5 feet from last year level of 1623 feet . The inflow in Bhakra is 40348 cusecs sharply reduced against last year inflow of 53368 cusecs due to erratic monsoon .

At Ranjit Sagar Dam the water level is 1673.8 feet marginally less against last year level of 1674.2 feet . The inflow is 15264 cusecs while it was 31040 cusecs last year.

At Pong Dam the water level is 1340 feet against last year level of 1357.6 feet.at pong inflow is 42478 cusecs against last year ‘s 95631 cusecs
On June 9 this year BBMB authorities asked partner states to increase their water withdrawal for irrigation in the ongoing paddy season in view of higher storage levels in reservoir. The water level on June 9 was 1578.07 feet which was 21.47 feet above last year level of 1556.60 feet. BBMB released extra water to create additional storage capacity for expected inflows in the monsoon season, and the water was released by BBMB in canals till June end and utilized by the partner states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Moreover this year the rainfall expected is less by 30 to 40% and there may not be possibility of floods as happened last year due to heavy rains and cloud bursts in Himachal.

As per central water commission (CWC) , reservoir live storage capacity at Bhakra is 21.84 % against average of 24.55 % . At Ranjit Sagar Dam it is 35.9% against average of 42.3%. The live storage during current year is lesser than the corresponding period of last year and is also lesser than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period.