More water to be released from Bhakra Dam

October 8th, 2009 Fresh flooding hits Philippines after days of rainMANILA, Philippines — Officials say fresh flooding has hit about 30 towns in the northern Philippines, sending residents fleeing to rooftops and scrambling for safety. The floods came after dams released excess water from recent heavy rains.

October 6th, 2009 Airlines ordered to test, disinfect onboard waterWASHINGTON — Federal regulators are issuing final rules requiring airlines to test and disinfect the water served to passengers and used in plane lavatories. The Environmental Protection Agency rules set out how frequently airlines must flush and disinfect the water systems on planes and test for coliform bacteria, which are associated with disease-causing germs.

October 6th, 2009 RAIPUR - Bhilai Steel Plant, the flagship unit of the state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), is facing a severe water crisis that could hit its production, an official said Tuesday. "It's a severe crisis.

October 2nd, 2009 LA Department of Water and Power chief resignsLOS ANGELES — The head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has stepped down amid increasing concern over recent water main breaks. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Friday that DWP Chief Executive David Nahai has resigned to become senior adviser to the Clinton Climate Initiative.

September 14th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - People having illegal water connections in Punjab's rural areas could soon find their supply drying up. The Punjab water supply and sanitation department Monday warned people to immediately remove illegal water connections or be prepared to face legal action, as well as disconnection of supply.

August 20th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - All villages in certain districts of Punjab that are affected by salinity in water will have reverse osmosis (RO) plants within 21 months to provide clean water to villagers, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said Thursday. The districts of Ferozepur, Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa and Muktsar in south-west Punjab are known as the cancer belt of the state.

August 14th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Punjab electricity board has imposed compulsory power cuts, often up tp 16 hours, across the state including urban areas to ensure electricity for farmers. Additionally, it has also imposed a continuous 72-hour power cut every week for industrial units.

July 17th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Many Punjab villagers are benefiting from a clean drinking water programme run by a non-governmental organization, which is establishing Reverse Osmosis (R.O) plants. So far, Naandi foundation has established 85 R.O plants, which are providing clean water to more than 450 villages.

June 27th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - In a bid to conserve electricity, the Punjab Government has asked all the government-run offices to do without air conditioners for the time being. The initiative has been taken to provide eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to the farmers during the paddy-sowing season.

June 25th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The monsoon is forecast to be late and below normal, raising the spectre of a water and power crisis, but the authority managing the Bhakra and Pong dams Thursday said there was no need for panic. Officials were, in fact, gathered here for a meeting to discuss the situation.

June 25th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the authority that manages power projects in north India including the Bhakra and Pong dams, Thursday said it would reduce discharge of irrigation water to help maintain water levels in reservoirs following the forecast of a late and below-normal monsoon. The decision was made after a meeting of officials from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh here Thursday.

June 24th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - The depleting water level in the Bhakra Nangal dam is going to further problems of many north Indian States who depend heavily on it for irrigation and drinking water purposes. With a delayed monsoon and prevailing heat conditions, the level of water has reduced to 1,504 feet (450 metres), which is 90 feet less than what it was at the corresponding time last year.

June 24th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Food grain production, especially of paddy, will be badly hit this year in Punjab if the monsoon was delayed further and the heat wave continued, agriculture experts here say. Punjab's agriculture department officials said though the panic button had not been pressed yet, paddy plantation could take a beating if the rains failed, especially given the acute water and power crisis in the state.

May 28th, 2009 GUWAHATI - One person was killed and thousands were affected as flash floods, caused by the release of water from dam reservoirs in China and Bhutan, submerged low lying areas of three districts in Assam, officials said here Thursday. "Even though there has been no major rainfall after Tuesday night, the water level of the Brahmaputra rose substantially at Dibrugarh in eastern Assam after China released water from their dam reservoirs," said an official of the state revenue, relief and rehabilitation department.

March 19th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Security at the Bhakra Dam in Himachal Pradesh has been beefed up following reports from central intelligence agencies that terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) intended to target the mega hydro-electric project. The 225-metre high Bakhra Dam is located nearly 20 km from Nangal town in Punjab.