(Feature Image: The Tribune’s file photo of Pandoh dam)

The Bhakra Beas Management Board seems to be at cross roads in several senses this year. In a Super El Nino year, when deficit rainfall prospects loom large, one would expect BBMB advocating lower outflows to ensure reservoir has higher storages if rainfall is indeed lower than normal. Particularly when there is also news of lower (2.2 BCM against normal of 4 BCM) snow fall and snow reserve in the catchment and just about half the expected inflows currently. Another report says BBMB has cancelled the tendering process for pilot desilting project in Bhakra reservoir in Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh. No one is of course asking for investigation as to how so much silt has entered the reservoir in last couple of decades with the increasing upstream construction activities in terms of hydropower projects, highways and urbanization, all leading to illegal dumping of muck into the upstream rivers.

Continue reading “DRP 150626: BBMB at cross roads: More outflow pushed in Super El Nino year” →