Rain-starved Bhakra to cut down supply

CHANDIGARH: Starved of rains, the fast-drying Bhakra from Thursday will reduce water released for irrigation by as much as 5,000 cusecs. The decision by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) was taken in consultation with the five governments of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, NCR and UT of Chandigarh.

Bhakra will now release 22,000 cusecs of water daily instead of 27,000 cusecs.

"The scant rainfall which has brought about a sharp drop in our water resources has compelled us to be economical. Otherwise, we will face difficulty in electricity generation,������ said a top BBMB official.

The decision will be a blow to farmers across Punjab, Haryana and the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh. Crops are already suffering on account of no rainfall, poor power supply and scant water for irrigation. Protests by farmers against government���s failure to ensure adequate supplies are likely to increase.

Confirming that the inflow in the Bhakra dam has been badly affected, MK Gupta, member (irrigation), said, ������In 2008, at this time of the year, the cumulative inflow from May 21 onwards was 13,54,822 cusecs which now stands at 8,40,464 cusecs.������ This is apparent from the daily data being compiled by the board which indicates that on Wednesday the total inflow in Bhakra was 30,069 cusecs as against 43,383 cusecs last year.

Water levels in all the three dams, Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar, have fallen drastically over the past two weeks because of excessive heat and scant rainfall. The water level at Bhakra on Wednesday was 1,504.7 feet as against 1,596 feet around the same time last year. At full capacity, the reservoir water level is at 1,680 feet.

Things are not much different at Pong dam whose level on Wednesday was 1,275 feet against 1,309.85 feet recorded last year. Levels have dropped at the Ranjit Sagar dam to 501.04 feet when it was 513 feet last year.