Himachal Pradesh’s wildlife department has successfully tracked its radio-collared birds to Mongolia, the Caspian Sea, Bangladesh and Siberia, marking a major breakthrough in its pilot project to study the behavior and migration pattern of birds that visit the Pong Dam Lake. Four out of 12 birds that had been fitted with the radio collar at Pong Dam have returned to the lake, while one bird, which had been tracked to Tamil Nadu a few days back is now visiting Chilka Lake in Orissa.

Contrary to expectations, the number of birds visiting Pong Dam wetland, one of the largest manmade wetlands in North India, has declined by about 10 per cent this year.

During a two-day census of the waterfowl species (birds that depend on water bodies for roosting and feeding), 119,500 birds of the 103 species were spotted in the wetland in Kangra district, wildlife officials said on Thursday.

Season’s Toll: 30 Dead, 233cr Property Damaged, Major Roads Hit
Shimla: Rivers in spate, mega hydropower plants shut down at short notice, dams filled to the brim, cloudbursts and road networks having suffered heavy damages, a vigorous monsoon in August this year has left a trail of destruction in Himachal Pradesh that has so far cost 30 human lives with another four missing.

This year, the Pong dam has seen the highest ever inflow of water in the month of August, recorded in the last 30 years. Besides, the water level has also risen to 12 feet in just two days — it had happened for the first time in the history of the dam. The inflow was the result of heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the reservoir, said authorities.

The Himachal Pradesh Government on Wednesday inked a $95.16 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank to strengthen tourism infrastructure in the State under the Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism.

The agreement was signed here by State Principal Secretary (Tourism) Manisha Nanda and ADB officer in charge of India Resident Mission Prodyut Dutt.

The first phase of the plan to develop the area near Pong Dam structure as a tourist destination, using the funds sourced from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has drawn criticism from oustees living in the vicinity of the Pong Dam lake.

Jalandhar: There is good news for farmers of Punjab and also adjoining states. The level of water in the Gobind Sagar reservoir at the Bhakra Dam and the Pong Dam is much higher this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

This will not only ensure uninterrupted supply of water for irrigation, but also adequate power.

Rajasthan: Land not available in Ganganagar
Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, September 30
The first meeting of the standing committee formed for redressing the grievances of Pong Dam oustees has thrown some options for solution to over 40-year-old problem.

SHIMLA, 14 SEPT: The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities today opened the spillways Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh as a precaution after the water level in the dam crossed the danger mark but authorities ruled out flood threat to lower riparian areas.

Spillways is the passage for release of surplus water from a dam.

Dharamsala: The floodgates of Pong Dam were opened at 9 am today after a gap of about 13 years. Water was released through these gates last time in 1997.

About 33,000 cusecs of water was released from the Pong Dam. It included 15,000 cusecs through spillway or floodgates and 18,000 cusecs through turbines.