Ropar, June 28
Reservoir levels at Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar are lower than last year, raising concerns that a deficient monsoon could impact storage in the coming months. A 30 per cent shortfall in rainfall may slow the filling process, though reduced levels have created additional capacity for inflows.
At Bhakra, the water level stands at 1,559.06 feet, down 8.27 feet from last year’s 1,567.33 feet, following extra releases to partner states and weaker inflows. Current inflow is 22,137 cusecs, sharply lower than last year’s 43,633 cusecs due to delayed rains and reduced snowmelt. On June 9, BBMB had asked Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to increase withdrawals for paddy irrigation, when the level was 1,578.07 feet — 21.47 feet higher than the same date last year.
At Ranjit Sagar Dam, the level is 1,653.5 feet, 4.5 feet below last year’s 1,658 feet, with inflows at just 2,006 cusecs compared to 40,207 cusecs a year ago. Pong Dam shows a level of 1,319 feet, higher than last year’s 1,294.8 feet, with inflows of 5,723 cusecs against 40,207 cusecs last year.
According to the Central Water Commission’s latest bulletin, live storage at Bhakra is 21.84 per cent against an average of 24.55 per cent, while Ranjit Sagar stands at 35.9 per cent against an average of 42.3 per cent. Current storage is lower than both last year’s levels and the ten-year average for this period.
Experts note that with rainfall expected to be 30–40 per cent below normal, the risk of floods like last year is minimal but reservoir replenishment could be significantly constrained.