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Amid the current flood-like conditions in Punjab, several villages across more than 10 districts are affected due to heavy discharge of water from Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams. Water is also being regulated through headworks to manage the flow. Heavy rainfall in the hills and the catchment areas of rivers Sutlej, Ravi and Beas flowing through Punjab have caused floods.
Here is what to know about the major rivers of Punjab, the dams built on them, and the headworks that control water distribution across the state.
The Sutlej originates from Rakshastal Lake near Mansarovar in Tibet. It enters India at Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh and flows into Punjab at Rupnagar district. it flows through the districts of Rupnagar (Ropar), Ludhiana, Jalandhar (via canals), Kapurthala (via canals), Ferozepur and Fazilka in Punjab. The Sutlej merges with the Chenab River in Pakistan after meeting the Beas at Harike( Tarn Taran district) in Punjab.
Sutlej has a carrying capacity of 2 lakh cusecs, but on a few occasions, it has carried up to 2.65 lakh cusecs under extreme conditions at the Phillaur point of the river.
The Bhakra Dam is built on the Sutlej River near Nangal, close to the border of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab (near Rupnagar district). It is one of India’s highest gravity dams. The full reservoir level of Gobind Sagar Lake (Bhakra reservoir) is around 1,680 feet, and the danger level is generally considered near this mark. On August 26, Bhakra’s level was 1,671 feet, according to irrigation department officials.
It stores and regulates Sutlej water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Releases water into the Sutlej downstream and supplies canals like Bhakra Main Line (BML), which irrigates large areas in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Beas river and Pong dam
The Beas originates from Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh and enters Punjab near Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. It flows through the districts of Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Amritsar in Punjab. The carrying capacity of this river is 80,000 cusecs.
The Pong dam or the Maharana Pratap Sagar Dam is built on the Beas in Himachal Pradesh near Kangra district, but supplies water to Punjab. It has a maximum storage capacity of 1410 feet, while the danger level starts at around 1,390 feet. during floods. On August 26, the level of Pong was 1390 feet.
The dam stores water for irrigation and power generation, discharging water into the Beas and supplies it to Harike headworks in Tarn Taran, where the Beas meets the Sutlej for further distribution.
Ravi river and Ranjit Sagar dam
The Ravi originates from Bara Banghal near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh. It enters Punjab near Pathankot district. It flows through Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab. The carrying capacity of this river is 2 lakh cusecs.
Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD) (Thein Dam) is located on the Ravi River at the border of Punjab (Pathankot) and Jammu & Kashmir. It primarily serves the purposes of hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. It has a maximum capacity of about 1,730 feet, with water levels closely monitored during the monsoon. The RSD level on August 26 was around 1,729 feet, sources from the irrigation and drainage department told The Indian Express.
Water is released downstream from the dam toward Madhopur headworks, which then controls and diverts water. The Ravi flows into Pakistan and joins the Chenab River.
Harike Headworks
Situated in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, it diverts the combined water of the Sutlej and Beas into major canals: the Rajasthan Feeder Canal and Ferozepur Feeder Canal, which further irrigate areas in Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda, and also supplies water to Rajasthan and Haryana as per their share.
Ropar Headworks
The Ropar Headworks is located near Rupnagar (Ropar) on the Sutlej River. It supplies water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. Key offtaking canals are the Sirhind Canal and Bhakra Main Line Canal. The headworks irrigates Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Moga, and parts of Haryana through canals.
Madhopur Headworks
The Madhopur Headworks are located on the Ravi in Gurdaspur district near Pathankot. It diverts water into the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) for irrigation in Punjab. It supplies water to Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and nearby regions through canals.
Madhopur-Beas link
This link was created under the Indus Waters Treaty to transfer surplus water of the Ravi to the Beas before entering Pakistan. It diverts water from the Ravi at Madhopur headworks into a link canal that flows into the Beas River upstream of Harike. It helps optimise the use of Ravi waters within India before the river crosses into Pakistan.
Hussainiwala Headworks
Located in Ferozepur district on the Sutlej River near the India-Pakistan border, it regulates water supply into canals like the Bikaner Canal and Eastern Canal, which irrigate Ferozepur, Fazilka, parts of Muktsar, and supply water to Rajasthan.
