Dip in Bhakra dam water level raises concerns

The water level in Bhakra dam reservoir-the Gobind Sagar lake is seven feet lower than what it was last year, and officials are now worrying that the lack of snowfall in the mountain ranges upstream could lead to a situation where there is not enough water ahead for this year's summer irrigation demand.

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The Bhakra dam on the Sutlej river is among the critical reservoirs, capable of storing up to 6.23 billion cubic metre of water, which is then released downstream, feeding a network of canals that help irrigate the critical agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana and feed drinking water needs in these regions, including further away in Delhi.

As per the central water commission, currently the dam has 3.27 BCM which is almost half of the total capacity. Except for the monsoon months between July and September, the reservoir is mostly fed by snowmelt.