THE Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) advisory urging Punjab and Haryana to draw more water from the Bhakra reservoir should serve as a wake-up call on the growing complexities of water management in north India. Far from being a routine operational decision, it reflects the pressures of climate uncertainty, unsustainable agricultural practices and fragile inter-state cooperation. The reservoir level currently stands at 1,578.07 ft — more than 21 ft higher than at the same time last year. With only about 102 ft of vertical buffer remaining before the full reservoir level, the margin for error is narrowing as the monsoon approaches. Snowmelt from the Himalayas and extreme rainfall events could rapidly transform abundance into vulnerability.
Ironically, this challenge coincides with Punjab’s paddy transplantation season. Although the state advanced the paddy calendar to June 1 partly to optimise water use, large tracts continue to depend heavily on groundwater while canal networks remain underutilised. When available surface water is not efficiently distributed, reservoirs are forced to retain larger volumes, shrinking the flood cushion needed to absorb sudden inflows. The lessons of the devastating floods of 2023 should not be forgotten. Delayed releases and disputes over reservoir operations fuelled political acrimony and raised questions about preparedness. Dam management cannot focus solely on power generation. Flood moderation must be an equally important objective.
Irrigation departments must ensure timely delivery of canal water, particularly to tail-end farmers, allowing greater reliance on surface irrigation and reducing pressure on depleting aquifers. Partner states, meanwhile, must coordinate reservoir operations with foresight. Water abundance should strengthen resilience, not heighten risk. Clearing reservoir space today is the best insurance against tomorrow’s climate uncertainties.
