Sukhna floodgates opened after a decade

CHANDIGARH: The UT engineering department on Monday afternoon opened the floodgates of Sukhna Lake after its water level crossed the danger mark of 1,163 feet.
It was in 2008 when floodgates of the lake were last opened after 2003.UT chief engineer Mukesh Anand said two gates out of the three at the regulatory end of the lake were opened at 12.48 pm. Before releasing the water, police and other departments of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali were informed, he said.The floodgates were closed at 6.32 pm, Anand added. He said the staff of the UT engineering department is keeping an eye on the water level that had risen from 1,161 feet last week to 1,162 feet on Saturday. In 1958, the lake encompassed 228 hectares. Today, it spanned 148 hectares, down by almost a third. Drying of Sukhna during summer had become an annual ritual, but in last three years the good rainfall has resulted in increase in the water level.
No damage to low lying areas
Unlike 2008, this time there was no report of damage to adjoining low lying areas of Sukhna choe after water was released from the lake. MC councillor Dileep Sharma, who represents area of Bapu Dham, Sector 26, he said there was no loss reported in his ward. Traffic was stopped at bridge at Bapu Dham, but later it was also opened as the water level had gone down, he added.
Traffic stopped at bridges
The UT administration had stopped traffic at bridges on the route of Sukhna choe from Sukhna Lake to Punjab. The choe flows north to south and joins the Ghaggar river. The traffic movement was restricted at Kishangarh bridge near Chandigarh Golf Range, bridge at Bapu Dham Sector 26, bridge near CTU workshop in Industrial Area, Phase I, and others. However, the traffic movement was restored after the water level went down.