By:Himvani
In wake of heavy monsoon rainfall the district administration has decided to discharge excessive water from brimming Pong Dam as it was released at 1100 hours this morning as a high alert was announced in the down stream yesterday.
Briefing media persons at Dharmashala yesterday the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ritesh Chauhan said that water would be discharged as precautionary measures on Sunday at 1100 hrs as the catchment and up streams has recorded a heavy monsoon downpour in last few days.
The water level of Pong dam spillway discharged marginally to drain out excess water however there is no threat of flood due to it in the down stream an official has confirmed.
Mr. Chauhan also said that high alert is being issued to the people living down stream of Pong Dam and people are being advised to not venture out and carry their cattle and vehicles near the rising level of water near the river.
The district machineries have been asked to keep a vigil in wake of rising of water level so that it does not affect waters supply schemes, PWD properties, electricity installations and habitations. Police, home guards and health officials have been asked to keep a vigilant check to respond in wake of any untoward eventualities due to flood in the downstream.
The authorities said there is no need to worry because if any excess water is further discharged from the Pong dam, it would not create flood-like conditions downstream. Administration said that water level of Pong Dam is still below the danger mark of 1393 feet as it was brimming at 1375. The Pandoh diversion dam is located on the Beas river in Mandi district and excess monsoon water is majorally diverted towards it which otherwise is diverted towards the Satluj river which feeds the Gobind Sagar reservoir of Bhakra dam. The dam still has the capacity to withhold additional water. If the rain continues and more water is discharged from Pandoh, the spill gates would have to be reopened.
The Pong dam, located along the Punjab border, about 250 km from here, is daily discharging 18,000 cusecs through normal operation of turbines. The discharged water fulfils the irrigation requirements of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
The metrological office in Shimla has said that some more areas in the state are likely to witness heavy rainfall on Thursday.
