Deflection of 1.05 inch in Bakra Dam as water crosses maximum limit

Chandigarh : Confirming that there was a deflection of 1.05 inch in the Bakra Dam structure, Bakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities on Monday said that there was not need to hit the panic button yet though the present maximum water storage level will not be allowed to exceed.

The maximum mark of 1680 feet of water storage capacity has been crossed in the Dam already and the authorities are preparing to release any excess water.

?The water level in the Bakra Dam has crossed the maximum level and we have also observed a deflection of just 1.05-inch in the Dam, but ’tilt’ is not the right word to use for it,” a BBMB member said.

“This deflection is within the permissible limit and we need not worry about it. But yes, we cannot allow a deflection beyond 1.05-inch.?

Informing that the Dam could break if the deflection went beyond 2 inches, the member said, ?Our engineers are monitoring the situation with the help of latest technology. So, there is no need to press the panic button.?

Located in the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border, the Dam?s water had led to heavy flooding in Punjab in 1988 when all the floodgates of the Dam had to be opened following a similar deflection.

The then-BBMB chairman Mj Gen. BN Kumar was later killed by Khalistan terrorists, blaming him for the devastation.

The Dam authorities, however, played down apprehensions of such a situation this time.

The present water level in the Dam is 1680.17 ft, while the water level in 1988 was 1687 ft.