BBMB’s pursuit for Environment Protection

• Generation of  Power from Water - the infinitely renewable source of energy
• Supply of Clean Water for irrigation & Drinking
• Maintenance of ecological balance, in accordance with prevailing standards, practice, technology & laws.

All the projects managed by BBMB i.e. Bhakra-Nangal, BSL Project and Beas Dam Project were planned and executed before 1979 i.e. before the environmental clearance from Govt. of India was made mandatory. However, BBMB, on its own,   started studying and evaluating the post-construction status of environmental components and assessing the impacts, if any, for short-term and long-term mitigative measures.

The multi-purpose BBMB projects have brought Green Revolution and Industrial Revolution in Northern India, while also protecting the region from the fury of devastating floods. The massive reservoirs have also promoted tourism & enhanced fish production. Moreover, these projects have led to higher industrialization, urbanization and employment opportunities, besides land reclamation and creation of wetlands which provide shelter to migratory birds also. Various efforts being made by BBMB for environmental protection & improvement and community service are as under:

• To setup appropriate environmental objective targets and their achievements while striving for continual improvement.
• To ensure safe disposal of silt from the Balancing Reservoir, BSL Project as per NEERI Report.
• To conduct regular reviews with various stake-holders including the public for redressal of their problems/grievances w.r.t. environmental issues and to maintain harmony with them.
• Setting up of fully equipped laboratories at project stations for conducting silt analysis, chemical and bacteriological tests for checking the performance of potable water, treatment plants, sewage treatment plants etc.
• Identification of green belts & development of parks, nurseries, gardens in the vacant BBMB land.
• To check encroachments and to prevent choking of drains, supply lines, sewer lines etc.
• To prepare proper solid waste management plans for safe and scientific disposal of the solid waste at the project areas.
• To prepare ‘Catchment Area Treatment’ and ‘Fringe Area Treatment’ plans and to implement the plans while coordinating with H.P. Govt. authorities.
• To remain in touch with H.P. and Central Pollution Control Boards for latest guidelines, innovations, instructions in the environment field.
• To conduct Awareness Programs among BBMB employees to sensitize them towards environmental protection and to plant trees/plants around their residences/colonies.
• To improve environment, undertaking ‘Plantation Programme’ every year on BBMB vacant land, terraces, fringe areas of the reservoirs, project colonies etc. by developing its own horticulture-wings at project stations.
• Environmental Up gradation and documentation across BBMB by having ISO:14001 Certification.
• Extending community services to peripheral areas of the projects through organizing medical camps, building pathways, roads & bridges, providing modern health services at BBMB hospitals etc.
• Release of downstream flow in river Beas to the extent of 15% of minimum flow at Pandoh Dam since September, 2005.
• Development of a modern Rock Garden, under the stewardship of Padam Shri Nek Chand, Founder of ‘Chandigarh Rock Garden’ on about 20 acres of vacant land at Talwara Township from the waste and surplus material collected from the project.
  

  The Pong Dam Lake (Maharana Partap Sagar) has been included in the list of “Wetlands of International Importance” in August 2002 under the Ramsar Convention on Wetland of 1971. More than one lac migratory birds of 220 species visit Maharana Partap Sagar every year. Nangal Lake has been included under National Wetland Conservation Programme in January, 2008 by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India.

  Climate Change

  Change in Climate due to global warming may cause change in temperature & precipitation in the Himalayan region also. Consequently the inflows of rivers feeding BBMB reservoirs may also change in future. Keeping in view the likelihood of such scenario, BBMB has initiated a study on the long term effects of change in climate on the river inflows. For this purpose, ‘Environment and Climate Change’ Cell has been set up.