All Pandoh Dam gates made fully operational after blockage by silt, driftwood
- Himachal ex-CM Jai Ram asks EC to ban poll guarantees, alleges Sukhu govt has turned ‘national spectacle’ - November 5, 2024
- Congress of Gandhi versus Congress of Rahul Gandhi: BJP’s Rekha Verma takes swipe over ‘mismanagement’ - November 4, 2024
- Scrap dealer staged shooting on himself, finds probe by Baddi SP - November 4, 2024
MANDI: All five spillway gates of Pandoh Dam have been rendered fully operational, allowing the management to shift its focus to power generation.
The breakthrough came last night at 10 pm when the jammed fifth gate was successfully opened. The dam had been facing severe issues due to silt and wood accumulation, swept along flashfloods that had completely blocked two of the five gates. Intensive efforts are now underway to clear the accumulated debris from the dam.
Once the task is completed, the water supply will resume, facilitating the recommencement of power generation at Dehar Power House.
BBMB Chief Engineer Sunil Dutt Sharma confirmed the successful operation of all gates, providing detailed insights into the recent developments.
He explained that the heavy silt deposits had rendered two gates inoperable, creating a challenging situation for the dam’s operations. In response, the BBMB Chairman, accompanied by a technical team, arrived on-site from Chandigarh to oversee the remediation efforts.
Utilising the expertise of BBMB workers and heavy machinery, the team managed to open Gate No. 2 around 7 pm, which allowed the water to start flowing out. This operation eased the silt buildup near Gate No. 1, enabling its opening by 10 pm. With all gates now operational, a controlled release of water is underway.
Chief Engineer Sharma assured that the situation was under control and there was no cause for concern. He acknowledged that opening the jammed gates was a complex task but credited the successful outcome to the collective efforts of the team.
Moving forward, the BBMB management is prioritising the resumption of power generation. The dam has accumulated a substantial amount of debris, including driftwood and other material, which has necessitated temporary halting of water supply to the Baggi tunnel. This interruption has, in turn, halted power production at the Dehar Power House.
