NHPC increases water release from Parbati-II Dam, issues fresh public advisory
Shimla, July 24
NHPC on Friday issued a fresh public advisory announcing an increase in water discharge from the Pulga Dam of the 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric Power Station in Kullu district, urging residents and tourists to stay away from the Parbati River as the reservoir level continues to rise due to heavy inflows.
According to NHPC, around 30 cumecs of additional water will be released through the radial gates of the Pulga Dam from 5:00 pm on July 24. Following the release, the total discharge into the Parbati River, including environmental flow and radial gate discharge, will increase to approximately 152.2 cumecs.
NHPC said that if the inflow into the reservoir continues to increase, additional water may be released from the radial gates, which could cause a further rise in the water level of the Parbati River.
The power utility has appealed to local residents, tourists, workers and visitors to maintain a safe distance from the river and avoid venturing near its banks during the water release. Owners and managers of hotels, guest houses, homestays, camps and taxi operators have also been requested to advise tourists to stay away from the riverfront and follow safety instructions.
As part of the precautionary measures, NHPC said hooters and sirens would be sounded before the release of water, while public announcement vehicles would be deployed in nearby areas to alert people about the rising water level.
The advisory comes as monsoon conditions continue to prevail across Himachal Pradesh, leading to rising reservoir levels and increased inflows into hydroelectric projects. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid rivers and other water bodies, and strictly follow official advisories, as river levels can rise suddenly due to controlled releases from dams in addition to heavy rainfall.
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