The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and Rupnagar district administration are indulging in blame game over the release of extra water into the Sutlej river.
On Wednesday, repair work started at the Anandpur Sahib hydel channel and the water being released in it from the Nangal dam was diverted to Sutlej river.
The issue
The release of about 4,000 cusecs of water into the Sutlej by the BBMB led to sudden increase in the water level, catching residents living in villages on the river bank unawares.
By evening, the water flow had increased, damaging the shuttering of an under-construction bridge at Burj village and washing away construction material. However, no loss of life was reported.
Admn’s stand
Anandpur Sahib sub-divisional magistrate Amarjit Singh Bains reached the spot and asked the BBMB authorities to stop the release of water.
Bains said the administration received information regarding release of water in the afternoon due to which the residents could not be informed in time.
Board in denial
However, the management board authorities denied the allegations.
BBMB water regulation director DK Gupta said information about the release of 13,000 cusecs of water in Sutlej from December 31 to January 21 was provided by the office of sub-divisional engineer, water regulation, and additional superintending engineer, Nangal Dam division, to district administration officials, including Rupnagar deputy commissioner and SDMs of Anandpur Sahib and Nangal, on December 27.
{{/usCountry}}BBMB water regulation director DK Gupta said information about the release of 13,000 cusecs of water in Sutlej from December 31 to January 21 was provided by the office of sub-divisional engineer, water regulation, and additional superintending engineer, Nangal Dam division, to district administration officials, including Rupnagar deputy commissioner and SDMs of Anandpur Sahib and Nangal, on December 27.
{{/usCountry}}He added that contrary to the information, only 4,000 cusecs of water was released and that too gradually.