Chamera Dams – Is the flooding natural or intentional?

By Dr Ashraf Chohan
Chairman PMLN UK
Chief Editor Daily Rapid Lahore

   •   The recent flooding in Pakistan’s Punjab region primarily stems from natural causes—specifically, intense monsoon rains and elevated river flows. India released water from dams, including Chamera-I, as a routine safety measure to manage rising reservoir levels and mitigate risks of overtopping.
   •   Although these releases exacerbated flooding downstream, they were not acts of aggression but steps taken under extreme weather conditions. India issued warnings beforehand, which helped evacuate over 150,000 people and likely saved lives.
   •   That said, critics in Pakistan and Indian local politics have labeled aspects of the flooding as “man-made”, accusing authorities of mismanaging dam releases and neglecting preparedness. In Punjab, political leaders faulted local governments for abrupt or poorly managed discharges that worsened the scale of damage.

History & Overview: Chamera-I Dam

Basic Details
   •   Location: On the Ravi River, near Dalhousie in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India
   •   Type: Concrete gravity (or arch-gravity) dam—also referred to as Chamera-I
   •   Construction Period: Built between 1981 and 1994, with operations commencing in 1994

Specifications
   •   Height: Approximately 136–140 m
   •   Length: Around 295 m
   •   Reservoir Area: Approximately 9–9.5 km² (Chamera Lake)
   •   Storage Capacity: Live storage around 110 million cubic meters; catchment area approx. 472.5 km²

Power Generation & Project Stages
   •   Chamera-I (Stage I): 3 units × 180 MW = 540 MW capacity—storage-type hydroelectric project
   •   Chamera-II (Stage II): 3 units × 100 MW = 300 MW, commissioned in 2004; run-of-river type
   •   Chamera-III (Stage III): Added in 2012 with 3 units × 77 MW = 231 MW
   •   Ownership is under NHPC Limited, a major Indian public-sector hydroelectricity company.

Purpose & Role
Built for hydroelectric power generation and supporting regional power supply as well as tourism and recreational activities (Chamera Lake’s scenic value and sports like boating, kayaking, angling)
Reservoir fluctuation: Normal levels between 747 m (minimum) and 763 m (maximum) above sea level