Lok Sabha Question No. 2001 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Regulation of Bhakra and Pong Dams
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2001

ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025

## REGULATION OF BHAKRA AND PONG DAMS

## †2001.    SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government is  aware  that  Bhakra  and  Pong  Dams  are  currently  being  regulated  below their Full Reservoir Level (FRL), namely Pong Dam at approximately 1290-1352 feet and Bhakra Dam at approximately  1560-1633  feet  thereby  affecting  water  availability  in  districts  such  as  Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Barmer in Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the reason for not filling the Bhakra and Pong dams to their full levels despite the water level of the Pong dam being found to be safe and there being sufficient rainfall and water storage capacity throughout the year; and

(c) the time by which the Real-Time Decision Support System (RTDSS) developed under the Hydrology Project of BBMB would become fully functional to raise the water level of these dams safely to full level and increase the availability of water and power in Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (c) The designed Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of Bhakra and Pong Dams are 1685 ft and 1400 ft respectively.  After  the  devastating  floods  during  the  year  1988,  the  Bhakra  Beas  Management  Board (BBMB) in its 138 th & 139 th meetings held on 19.07.1990 and 29.08.1990 respectively, had decided that the maximum water level at Bhakra and Pong reservoirs should be kept 1680 ft and 1390 ft respectively, for storage purposes to cater for any flood eventuality occurring in late monsoon months.

In respect to Bhakra Dam, on the basis of recommendations of Central Water Commission (CWC), BBMB decided that the current operating criteria for maintaining the reservoir level at El. 1680 feet may continue.

In respect of the Pong Dam, keeping in view CWC recommendations, BBMB in its 249 th meeting held  on  06.09.2024  decided  that  considering  the  constraints  in  the  carrying  capacity  of  Beas  River  in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab downstream of the Pong Dam, the Full Reservoir Level of the dam be kept at EL-1390 ft so as to save life and property in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

The BBMB has developed and installed network of Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) devices  in  the  catchment  of  its  dams  (Bhakra,  Pong  and  Pandoh).  These  devices/sensors  such  as Automatic Water Level Recorder (AWLR), Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) and Flowmeter etc. provides real time information and status of the basin in terms of water level of the river, rainfall, temperature/moisture conditions etc.

The BBMB is regulating the waters of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers and distribution of water of these rivers among partner states in accordance with Inter-state agreements entered into by partner states. Partner States project the irrigation and domestic requirements of their respective States in the monthly Technical  Committee  Meetings  (TCM)  of  Bhakra  Beas  Management  Board  (BBMB)  which  is  then released by BBMB from the Reservoirs as per the decision taken in the aforesaid meeting.

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