Heavy rains boost water level in Punjab dams

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Heavy rains boost water level in Punjab dams

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in

The monsoon that hit Punjab and Himachal Pradesh early this month has brought cheers on the faces of Bhakhra, Dehar, Pong Ranjit Sagar Dam management. The water level in Punjab’s dam remains above, as compare to last year, this day. The inflow of water is also recorded high as compare to last year, on this day.

As per the figures, last year on July 17, the water level at Bhakra dam reservoirs was at 1551  feet with inflow of water as 40255 cusecs. But this year, same day, July 17, the water level is at 1581 feet , with inflow of 42985 cusecs. The discharge from the Bhakhra dam was 30500 cusecs on July 17,2021 where as it was 22942 cusecs. Bhakhra dam can hold water upto 1680 feet.

As per sources, by the end of July, the water level in Bhakra dam reservoirs touches 1,630 to 1,640 ft mark, generally and it is expected to touch this level, this year too as sufficient rainfall in the catchment area this year.

Likewise the water level at Ranjit Sagar dam reservoirs was at 499.16 m , on July 17,2021. But this year the water level is at 506.98 m. Even water inflow is increased in Ranjit Sagar dam too. On July 17,2021 the water inflow was 11918 cusecs , but this year, on same day, its 17592 cusecs. The discharge from Ranjit Sagar dam was 13893 cusecs on July 17,2021 whereas it was 6800 cusecs this year. Ranjit Sagar dam maximum height is 527.91 feet but permissible limit is at 524.91 feet.

Heavy rains boost water level in Punjab dams -Photo courtesy-Internet
Bhakhra

The other dam which is also above as compare to last year, same day is Pong dam. Last year Pong dam reservoirs was at 1297.59 feet, whereas, today its level is at 1315.15 ft level. The inflow of water in Pong dam was 17131 cusecs on July,17, 2021, where as its 18763 cusecs on july,17,2022. The discharge from Pong dam was 8050 cusecs last year where as it was 2990 cusecs , this year on same date. The maximum height of Pong dam is 1390 feet and minimum height is 1260 feet.

Similarly, Dehar dam which is also above as compare to last year, same day. Last year Dehar dam reservoirs was at 2922.37 ft feet, whereas, today its level is at 2923.81 ft level. The inflow of water in Dehar dam was 18672 cusecs on July,17, 2021, where as its 25402 cusecs on july,17,2022. The discharge from Dehar dam was 8470 cusecs on July 17,2021 where as it was 8468 cusecs on July 17,2022.

Heavy rains boost water level in Punjab dams . With heavy rain in these few days in the catchment areas, in fields, low outflow of water and high level at reservoirs has an impact on electricity generation also. Total transmission from Bhakhra dam on July 17, 2022 was 186.87 lac units, from Ranjit Sagar dam it was 43.12 lac units, from Pong dam it was 11.75 lac units and from Dehar it was 148.98 lac units

Punjab gets 100 percent electricity share from Ranjit Sagar dam and Pong dam. Whereas electricity generated from Bhakra dam is distributed amongst partner states’ said a PSPCL officer.

Ranjit Sagar dam is on river Ravi and houses four generating units of 150 MW each with total capacity of 600 MW. Pong Dam installed capacity of power house is 396 MW (6×66 MW).

Bhakhra dam have a total capacity of 1325 MW. It has two power houses. The left power house contain 3 x 108 MW and 2 x 126 MW Francis turbines while the right has 5 x 157 MW. The power generated at Bhakra Dam is distributed among partner states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi.

July 17,2022