Pong dam gets highest inflow in Aug in 30 years

This year,the Pong dam has seen the highest ever inflow of water in the month of August,recorded in the last 30 years. Besides,the water level has also risen to 12 feet in just two days — it had happened for the first time in the history of the dam. The inflow was the result of heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the reservoir,said authorities.

As per the records,while the dam has received 80,000 to 90,000 cusecs of water on an average between August 1 and August 20,the inflow was in lakhs between August 12 and August 17. Between August 12 and August 14,the figure was 2.5 lakh cusecs. Within two days,the water level had gone up by 12 feet — from 1,371 feet to 1,383 feet. Even on August 16,the inflow was 1.78 lakh cusecs.

Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chief Engineer at Pong Dam,Talwara,V M Goel,said: “If we compare the inflow of water into the dam in the first 20 days of August against the same period in the previous years,then it is the highest in the last 30 years. The dam has never a rise of 12 feet in just two days.”

He added that every year,there used to be heavy inflow in the dam for a few days,but not for 20 days at a stretch as had happened this year. “The meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall in the catchment area. Then the situation will become more serious,” said Goel.