Home / Environment / Punjab Blames Reservoirs for 2025 Flood Crisis
Punjab Blames Reservoirs for 2025 Flood Crisis
12 Sep
Summary
- Punjab cited declining reservoir capacity due to silt accumulation.
- State argues rigid rule curves hinder flood management flexibility.
- Concerns raised over downstream river capacity and inflow coordination.
Punjab has formally expressed concerns to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about the operational management of the Bhakra and Pong reservoirs. The state attributes its 2025 flood crisis, which affected over 2,000 villages, to several factors including shrinking storage capacity and inflexible reservoir rule curves.
According to Punjab's affidavit, sediment accumulation has significantly reduced the gross and live storage capacities of both reservoirs. Despite this, no desilting has been undertaken by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), leading Punjab to advocate for scientific desilting to restore capacity.
The state also contested the rigid adherence to pre-set rule curves, emphasizing the need for operational flexibility during volatile monsoon conditions. Punjab argues that reservoir levels should adapt to actual inflow patterns and forecasts, not strictly predetermined guidelines.
Furthermore, Punjab highlighted that the carrying capacity of downstream rivers like the Sutlej and Beas has not been adequately considered. This oversight, coupled with releases from dams and local rainfall, could exceed the rivers' capacity, exacerbating inundation as witnessed in the severe 2025 floods.
