Punjab: Debate over Bhakra Dam spillway rages on

CHANDIGARH: Even as the debate over the way Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) handled the excess water continues to rage, Punjab finds itself in a spot over funding its relief operations in the aftermath of widespread floods in the state over the last week.
The damage caused by floods is estimated to be over Rs 1,700 crore. The state has at its disposal the state disaster relief management fund from which it can provide Rs 5,083 per acre to the affected farmers.Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Rs 1,000 crore for flood relief.
Punjab minister for disaster management Gurpreet Singh Kangar on Thursday said the Centre had neither offered any help in relief work in the state so far, nor reacted to the request for compensation. “I am not aware if the chief minister’s office has received any such information,” he said, adding, “otherwise, the state government has ordered crop damage assessment in the affected areas and relief will be provided as per the laid down norms.”
To add to the problem, Punjab sat on formulating a crop insurance policy which could have proved useful during the current crisis in face of the natural calamity.
Meanwhile, former chief engineer (irrigation) of Punjab Amarjit Singh Dullet said the BBMB could have handled the situation better. “They should not have filled up Bhakra dam by 1,680 feet and should have kept it 1,670 feet. I am not at the helm of affairs but this is what we used to do. Why do they now want to reduce it to 1,675 feet and not before? In view of the impending monsoon, 1,670 feet was a good level even if the BBMB wanted to watch the interest of other state… If the glass if full of water, even a single drop added to it would spill,” he said.
On the other hand, BBMB chairman D K Sharma had insisted on Wednesday that the unprecedented ‘hydrological event’ on August 17 night was successfully handled even though it generated around 3,11,130 cusec of inflows into Bhakra dam raising the levels upto 1,681.33 feet on August 19. This water inflow was more than 1988 considering that inflows of 8,400 cusec into the Satluj from the Beas through Beas-Satluj Link Project were stopped completely, said Sharma.
Punjab technocrat should head BBMB: Minister
A day after the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) gave a detailed justification for releasing excess water that added to the floods, Punjab minister for disaster management Gurpreet Singh Kangar demanded that the chairperson of the board should ideally have a technocrat from the state.
Kangar told TOI, “There have been technocrats from Punjab heading the board in the past. Such a move would ensure that the interests of Punjab are given priority.” Asked if he would take up the issue at some level, he added, “That is for the irrigation minister (Sukhjinder Singh Sarkaria) to decide. I have expressed my views.”
“Presently, there is only one BBMB member from Punjab and there is need for more representation, as was the case in the past. I’m sure now that I have raised the issue, it will be taken note of,” he added.