Water storage in major Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) reservoirs remains significantly higher than last year, as authorities have deliberately maintained elevated levels until May 30 due to concerns that El Niño conditions could weaken the coming monsoon.
According to the BBMB data, the Bhakra Dam reservoir level stood at 1,587.55 ft on May 10, substantially higher than 1,558.44 ft on the same day last year and above the average of 1,534.22 ft for this date. Sources said BBMB adopted a strategy of conserving more water after forecasts of below-normal rainfall due to El Niño.
The reservoir currently holds 2.01 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) of live storage, compared to 1.30 BCM during the corresponding period last year, and is around 36 per cent full. Despite lower inflows of 8,109 cusecs against 16,285 cusecs last year, authorities have restricted releases to maintain comfortable storage. Outflow from the dam was recorded at 13,637 cusecs.
Deflection in the Bhakra Dam structure is also being closely monitored. Consistently high water levels led to extra deflection in the dam’s structure last year.
According to information accessed by The Tribune, the dam recorded a maximum deflection of 1.17770 inches this year, compared to the designed limit of 1.03 inches under static loading conditions. The deflection later reduced to 1.04 inches, still above the minimum designed deflection, indicating sustained pressure on the concrete gravity structure due to prolonged high reservoir levels.
Sources said the maximum storage level of the Bhakra reservoir is 1,680 ft, while the minimum is 1,462 ft. However, over the past several years, the water level has not fallen below 1,550 ft, a situation that has prevented the dam from fully returning to its original equilibrium. Engineers monitoring the dam believe this prolonged loading cycle contributed to the increased deflection.
BBMB had planned a controlled reduction of the reservoir level this summer, aiming to bring it down to between 1,490 and 1,510 ft to reduce structural deflection to within designed safety limits. However, due to weak monsoon predictions this year, authorities have decided to keep dam levels higher than last year.
Sources said technical monitoring of the dam is being carried out regularly by experts, and the observed deflection is considered a normal engineering phenomenon in large concrete gravity dams due to water pressure, temperature variations, and seasonal load changes. Officials maintain that the dam remains structurally safe and under constant surveillance.
Similarly, the Pong Dam reservoir level stood at 1,333.43 ft, against 1,293.64 ft last year. It currently holds 2.29 BCM of live storage, compared to 0.72 BCM last year, and is 40 per cent full against 12 per cent during the corresponding period last year. Inflows were recorded at 2,742 cusecs while releases stood at 4,209 cusecs.
At Pandoh Dam, inflows were measured at 4,193 cusecs, while 3,146 cusecs were diverted through the Beas-Sutlej Link project.
Meanwhile, the water level in the Ranjit Sagar Dam reservoir stood at 517.48 metres, higher than 504.98 metres recorded last year. Inflows were 2,822 cusecs while releases were 6,463 cusecs.
