The Bhakra and Beas Management Board (BBMB) asked Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to use water judiciously, saying the water inflow into the Bhakra and Pong reservoirs is low this year.
A technical committee meeting attended by representatives of the three states was held in Chandigarh to decide about the water release.
"We have told partnering states that the level of water was low in Bhakra and Pong dams. Therefore, they should use the water judiciously," a senior official of the BBMB said on Wednesday.
The water level in Bhakra dam, built on Sutlej river, was marked at 1,523 feet yesterday, about 10 feet lower than what it was recorded on the same day last year.
The water level in Pong dam, built on Beas River, was about eight feet lower than what it was on the same day in 2017. Pong dam's level was recorded at 1,291 feet.
Official pointed out that there was 20 to 30 per cent lesser water inflow this year because of decrease in snow melting caused by low temperatures prevailing over upper Himalayas.
"Western disturbances have caused decrease in temperatures which affected the water inflow," the official said.
Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have sought water requirement of 23,500 cusecs.
Punjab, Chief Engineer (Canals) J S Mann, who attended the meeting, said, "We are hoping that water inflow from snow melting rise which will ease the situation."
A next meeting of the partnering states on May 18 will review the situation.
Bhakra and Pong dams are to be filled up to a level of 1,680 feet and 1,390 feet respectively by September this year. PTI
