A Preventable Crises: Silt, Drains & Mismanagement of Dam Water Inflow-Outflow

The holding capacity of the Bhakra Dam, built upstream on the Satluj, has reduced by about 25% since its inception in 1963. The primary reason is the dam’s reservoir has never been desilted for 62  years. Spread over 88 sq km across Bilaspur and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh, the lake’s original storage capacity was 7.4 BCM, which has been reduced to around 6 BCM. The reservoir was originally expected to receive 33 MCM of silt annually, but the actual inflow has been 39 MCM. Senior journalist Jasbir Singh says, silt in river Satluj has reduced its water carrying capacity from 300K cusecs to 80K cusecs, to less than one-third. Earlier this year, a committee of the Public Works Department had carried out a drone survey and identified 346 spots on national highways, state highways and Mandi (Grain Market) Board Roads in Panjab where the drainage flow was obstructed. The Public Action Committee (PAC) shared water inflow-outflow data from the three dams. Between 1-21 Aug, at the Bhakra dam on the river Satluj river, the per day average inflow was 57.4K cusecs, against an average outflow was 27.1K cusecs. From 25 Aug-4 Sep the average inflow surged to 73.4K cusecs. The average outflow nearly doubled to 53K cusec, peaking at 73K cusecs on 4 Sep. Between 1-24 Aug, at Pong Dam on the river Beas the average per day inflow was 77K cusec, against an outflow of 42.5K cusecs. From 25 Aug-4 Sep, the average inflow surged to 121.6K cusecs. The average outflow rose to 87.5K cusecs, peaking at 109K cusecs on 1 Sep. These dams are under Bhakra Beas Management Board controlled by the Indian Union Power Ministry. Even Ranjit Sagar Dam, which is directly under the Panjab government’s control, between 1-24 Aug, the per day average inflow was 38.7K cusecs against average outflow of 11.2K cusecs. Between 24 Aug-4 Sep the inflow surged to 71.9K cusecs and average outflow surged to 62.8 cusecs. PAC is filing a case in the National Green Tribunal against both the union and state government over the inflow-outflow mismanagement which caused the floods. (earlier coverage).