UT opens Sukhna floodgate after water level touches danger mark

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, September 21

The UT Engineering Department on Tuesday opened one of the three floodgates of Sukhna Lake after the water level reached the danger mark.

As a precautionary measure, the floodgate was opened at 10.30 am when the water level touched the danger mark of 1,163 feet, said an official of the department. He, however, said the water level at 1 pm had come down to 1,162.6 feet and the gate was yet to be closed.

It is the third time in this monsoon season when the authorities have opened the floodgate. Earlier, the gate was opened on August 9 and August 14. 

The water level in the lake has increased after incessant rain in the city and catchment area of the lake since Monday, which forced the department to open the floodgate. 

An alert was sounded in the neighbouring areas and to avoid flooding downstream, the water was released in small quantity, he said, and added that the Mohali administration was also informed in advance about opening of the floodgate. Officials of the department were present at the lake to monitor the situation.  

The water level in Sukhna Lake on August 8 had reached 1,162.3 feet, nine inches below the danger mark, due to rain in the city and the catchment area of the lake.

Two of the three floodgates had to be opened in August last year after the water level of the lake had crossed the danger mark and reached 1,163.4 feet and the gush of the water led to flooding in Baltana area of Mohali district.  

Before this, on September 24, 2018, incessant rain in the catchment area had forced officials to open two floodgates of the lake. At that time, the gates were opened after a gap of 10 years.  

After opening of the floodgates, the Sukhna Choe carries the excess water of the lake to the Ghaggar river.