Water level in Pareechho River down : Minister

Shimla, July 10 (UNI) Though the water level in the artificial lake formed in the Pareechhu River in Tibet had come down this year as compared to last year, the flood threat still remains Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Sat Mahajan said.

''From the satellite pictures available with us, it seems the water level has come down this year as compared to last year.

However, the flood threat still remains,'' he told UNI here.

Mr Mahajan said the state government was observing the situation and has urged the Centre to intervene and seek Chinese cooperation in the matter.

The flood threat from the river was real due the artificial lake formed behind a massive landslide on the river and it gets accentuated in the monsoons with the water level rising, he said. ''The water level also increases due to an increase in the melting of glaciers.'' Disputing reports in a section of the media that said a high alert had been sounded in five districts of Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur and Shimla, the Revenue Minister said it was a general alert that helped them in saving precious human and animal lives last year.

The artificial lake formed behind a landslide in Pareechhu River in Tibet overflowed last year, flooding several low lying areas along the Sutlej River in Kinnaur district, besides washing away key bridges in the district. However, no loss of life was reported.

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