Bhopal Upper Lake dam gates opened so early in July after 38 years

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Heavy incessant rainfall in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal during past week led to the opening of Bhadbhada dam gates on Upper Lake on Tuesday afternoon as it was about to touch its full tank level of 1666.80 feet (above sea level).

It is only second time in last 51 years that Bhadbhada gates have been opened in first fortnight of July.

Before this, the earliest in season that the gates were opened was in year 1978, when the dam gates were opened on July 6.

Normally the Upper Lake brims up only in month of August or September. During past 51 years, the dam gates had to be opened in July on only on nine occasions.

Before this, Bhadbhada gates were opened in year 2013 six times during the season. That year the gates opened for the first time on July 23. During past two years, poor rainfall kept the Upper Lake from filling up to the brim.

Alert was sounded in the areas downstream of Bhadbhada dam and on the banks of the Kaliasote River as the water flow was likely to increase the level of this river. The Kaliasote River meets the Betwa in Vidisha district.

As has been the tradition, hundreds of enthusiastic citizens rushed to the Bhadbhada dam site on Tuesday afternoon to enjoy the scene as gallons of water gushed from the Lake through the three open sluice gates. The gates were formally opened by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in presence of city mayor Alok Sharma.

Upper Lake and all activities associated with it have a special connect to the citizens of Bhopal. This is so because of historic importance of one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world and the fact that it is a lifeline for almost half (40%) of Bhopal’s population.

The Upper Lake – constructed in 11th century AD – has a huge surface area of 35 sq kms and spans over two districts of Bhopal and Sehore. It is fed from its large catchment areas and by rivulets Kolans and Uljhawan.

Heavy rainfall in catchment including Sehore leads to filling up of the Upper Lake and once it touches the FTL of 1666.80 feet, the Bhadbhada dam gates at southeast corner of the Lake are thrown open to maintain the water level and prevent overflowing. The Bhadbhada dam has 11 sluice gates.