Anandpur Sahib Hydel Canal Overflows Near Bhanupli Siphon
Concern gripped residents of villages near the Bhanupli area in Ropar district on Wednesday after a section of the Anandpur Sahib Hydel Canal began overflowing close to the Bhanupli siphon. Local residents noticed water spilling over from the canal and promptly alerted the authorities.
Upon receiving the alert, officials from the civil wing of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), which operates and maintains the canal system linked to hydel projects, rushed to the site to assess the situation and initiate remedial measures.
Possible Cause: Trash Accumulation
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that an accumulation of trash in the canal system could be the root cause. Plastic bags, bottles, and other discarded materials carried by the flowing water may have clogged the siphon section, restricting water flow and leading to the spillover.
PSPCL officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the growing problem of solid waste being dumped into the canal. They stated that the corporation removes hundreds of tonnes of garbage and debris from the canal every month, yet indiscriminate disposal of plastic and other waste by the public continues to pose a serious operational challenge.
“The increasing amount of trash entering the canal has become a major issue. There is a possibility that waste material accumulated near the siphon, restricting the flow of water and causing it to spill over,” an official said.
Official Response
Executive Engineer of PSPCL’s civil wing, Avinash Sharma, said he was proceeding to the location to ascertain the exact cause of the overflow and ensure necessary action. “We are reaching the spot and will determine the reasons behind the overflow after conducting an inspection,” Sharma stated.
PSPCL teams are monitoring the situation closely, and efforts are underway to ensure the canal remains structurally safe and water flow is restored to normal without affecting downstream areas.
Importance of the Canal
The Anandpur Sahib Hydel Canal is a critical component of Punjab’s hydroelectric infrastructure. It carries water diverted from the Nangal Hydel Channel system to generate electricity. Two major hydel power projects, each with an installed capacity of 100 megawatts (MW), have been established on the canal—one at Anandpur Sahib and the other at Nakkian. Together, these projects contribute 200 MW of renewable energy to the state’s power grid.
Apart from electricity generation, the canal is a vital engineering structure requiring regular maintenance to ensure uninterrupted operations.
Public Appeal and Safety
Officials have repeatedly appealed to the public not to dump garbage into the canal, warning that such practices can obstruct water flow, damage infrastructure, and create safety hazards. As of the filing of this report, no damage to the canal structure had been reported, and PSPCL teams continued inspection and restoration work at the Bhanupli siphon site.
