There has been a record drop in water levels of Chenab in Akhnoor area of Jammu as authorities have closed the gates of Baglihar and Salam dams to reduce water flow to Pakistan.
The water level in the Chenab River witnessed a significant drop in Akhnoor after the closure of gates at the Baglihar and Salal Dams.
A local Kalyan Singh said, “Earlier, the Chenab River used to flow at a height of 25-30 feet, but now there is hardly 1.5-2 feet of water left here. This is because of PM Modi’s decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold…We do not want even a single drop of water to be supplied to Pakistan. We are all standing with the Indian Army and PM Modi…”
Another local expressed shock over the drastic change in the level of water in the river Chenab in the Akhnoor area of the territory.
“In my 75 years of life, for the first time I have seen such low volume of water in Chenab, I express gratitude to PM Modi for taking this decision. I’m shocked to witness the drastic change in the river’s water level, from once being full to now barely having 1-1.5 feet of water. We stand with the Indian Army,” he said.
Another resident said, “This is a very big achievement. This step by the government is very good. Our government is giving Pakistan a befitting reply in a lot of ways. We are all with the government.”
The river Chenab’s water level rose on May 2 following heavy rainfall in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources said authorities have restricted the flow of water through the Baglihar and Salal hydro-electric dams over Chenab river and is planning similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam over Jhelum river in Jammu and Kashmir.
They said the hydroelectric power dams, Baglihar in Ramban, Salal in Reasi and Kishanganga in Kashmir, offer India the ability to regulate the timing of water release. India’s decision to suspend the decades old treaty follows the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, in a terror attack at Pahalgam.
A senior official in the Administration at Ramban said that the water from Baglihar reservoir was stopped during early morning on Sunday as all the dam gates were closed.
A couple of days ago, there was heavy rain in the upper reaches and the gates were opened to allow water flow towards Reasi and the water flow was again suspended from Salal dam. The flood like situation was created in low lying areas of Reasi and Akhnoor. It caused some damage in Pakistan.
But on Sunday morning, the Baglihar dam gates were closed and the water flow was totally stopped. With this the Chenab river bed at Ramban and down-stream turned totally dry.
The water flow from Salal dam in Reasi has also been reduced and the water level at Akhnoor and Jourian has also considerably reduced. It has aggravated the water crisis in Pakistan.