Water level in Punjab dams decreasing; farmers advised to use water with restraint

AHMEDABAD: Punjab's Irrigation Minister, Janmeja Singh Sekhon has appealed to the farminig community to use irrigation water with utmost restraint as water level in the dams was decreasing due to slow and late melting of snow in the catchments areas.

"Snow on the high peaks was not melting at a pace as it was expected in this period of summer. Due to the decreasing inflow of water in the dams, the water level has been decreasing day by day," said Mr Sekhon. The water level of Pong Dam on Wednesday was 1299.64 feet, which was 50.22 feet less as compared to the previous year. Similarly,the water level of Bhakhra Dam was 1527.62 feet, which was 50.46 less as compared to last year.

Mr Sekhon said that the water level of the dams is decreasing by one feet every day. "If the same conditions persisted, the water in the canal would have to released on weekly basis," he said.

The state government has been ensuring eight hours power supply to the tube wells and engineers have been deputed to ensure optimum utilization of canal water for the irrigation purpose. He said that it becomes imperative for the farmers themselves also to use the available canal water for irrigation of paddy fields with utmost discipline so that keeping in view of reduced availability of water in the canals.