Early Kharif season to face 42 percent water shortage: IRSA

The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Tuesday said that early Kharif season would face 42 per cent water shortage rather than earlier proposed 31 percent.

It was decided in the IRSA Advisory Committee Emergency meeting held here with its chairman Ahmed Kamal in the chair.

The meeting was also attended by members Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Chief Engineer hydrology WAPDA, director Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD), Advisor Irrigation Sindh, consultant irrigation Punjab, Chief Engineer Mangla, director Agriculture Sindh and Chief Engineer Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting was informed that water inflow remained 15 per cent below than anticipation. The actual inflow was recorded as 7.9 million acre feet (MAF) against the anticipated inflows of 9.32 MAF.

The PMD official apprised that there was no change in present situation and monsoon situation would be predicted in mid-June.

The WAPDA representative said that the catchments areas received 50 per cent low snow during the winter season.

All members again stressed the need to construct more new dams in the country.

The member Punjab objected on heavy losses from Taunsa to Kotri which were about 1 MAF.

A three-member committee was also set up under chairmanship of IRSA director operation to measure water discharge at Guddu Barrage and other barrages of the country.

Directors Regulation Punjab and Sindh would be its members. Meanwhile, on complaints of Balochistan, Sindh agreed to take immediate steps to overcome shortages of Balochistan.

It was also decided that IRSA would again review water situation in mid-June after issuance of monsoon predication of PWD.

Moreover, keeping in view the present rain spell, IRSA has changed the regulation and has increased provincial share.

The Punjab share has been increased from 56,000 cusecs to 64,000 cusecs, Sindh from 43,000 cusecs to 55,000 cusecs while Balochistan and KPK were getting 5,000 cusecs and 3,000 cusecs respectively.

Meanwhile, IRSA released 150,900 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 163,900 cusecs.

According to the data released by IRSA, water level in the Indus River at Tarbela Dam was 1391.35 feet, which was 11.35 feet higher than its dead level of 1,380 feet.

Water inflow in the dam was recorded as 46,200 cusecs while outflow as 35,000 cusecs.

The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1093.00 feet, which was 53.00 feet higher than its dead level of 1,040 feet whereas the inflow and outflow of water was recorded as 44,600 cusecs and 42,800 cusecs respectively.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Sukkur was recorded as 94,800, 45,800 and 10,200 cusecs respectively.

Similarly from the Kabul River, 48,300 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera and 14,900 cusecs from the Chenab River at Marala.