Severe flooding in Punjab has submerged villages within the Beas River catchment zone after substantial water release from the Pong Dam, also known as the Beas Dam. Constructed between 1961 and 1974, the dam serves irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Its reservoir, Maharana Pratap Sagar, once an artificial lake, is now a bird sanctuary. The dam’s features include a 133 m tall earth-fill structure and a width of 13.72 m at its crest. The Beas River, originating in Himachal Pradesh, stretches about 470 km to meet the Sutlej River. Its tributaries, both perennial and seasonal, contribute to its flow.
Prelims pointer
- Pong Dam (Beas Dam): An earth-fill embankment dam on the Beas River, Himachal Pradesh, serving irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The dam’s release caused flooding in Punjab’s Beas River catchment area.
- Maharana Pratap Sagar: The artificial lake formed by the raised water level of the Pong Dam. It became a bird sanctuary, home to various bird species.
- Beas River: Originating from Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, it flows for around 470 km, eventually joining the Sutlej River in Punjab.
- Tributaries: Rivers like Bain, Banganga, Luni, Uhlal, and others contribute to the Beas River’s flow. Northern tributaries are perennial due to snowmelt, while southern ones are seasonal and rain-fed.
