February 13, 2002	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 29, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: The water level at Tarbela reservoir has dropped to 1,386 feet, only 17 feet above the dead level, forcing drastic cuts on provincial shares.

According to the data released by Indus River System Authority (Irsa) here, the dead level of Tarbela is 1,369 feet and the level recorded on Tuesday was 1,386 feet, with an inflow of 13,100 and outflow of 22,000 cusecs.

When asked as to how long the storage at Tarbela would last, an Irsa official said they would try to manage with whatever water was available in Tarbela till March 31, the last day of kharif season.

He pointed out that at an Irsa meeting on Feb 6, the provinces were apprised of the deteriorating situation and they had voluntarily agreed to reduce their indents.

“We are hoping that the situation after March 31 will improve as substantial snowfall has been reported in the Northern Areas,” he added.

The data released by Irsa depicted equally dismal picture at Mangla, the second largest reservoir. The water level at Mangla was 68 feet above the dead level. Though the level seemed considerably high above the dead level, the quantity stored in it was much less because of the size of the lake, he said.

The inflow upstream Mangla was 8,700 cusecs and the outflow was 21,000 cusecs. “It depends on Punjab,” said the official when asked how long the storage at Mangla would last.

The level at Chashma was only one foot above the dead level of 637 feet. Inflow at Chashma was 33,500 cusecs and outflow was 26,000 cusecs. Irsa was releasing 5,000 cusecs in Chashma-Jehlum link canal and 2,500 cusecs in Chashma Right Bank Canal.

The flow upstream Guddu was 20,333 cusecs and discharge was 17,033 cusecs.

Around 1,915 cusecs was being received at Kotri barrage where the discharge was nil as usual.

At Tunsa, the flow was 25,763 cusecs and the discharge was 22,517 cusecs. The release in T.P.Link was 1,246 cusecs, in Muzaffarghar canal 1,000 cusecs and Dera Ghazi Khan Canal 1,000 cusecs.

DEAD LEVEL: The Tarbela Dam is likely to reach its dead level by Feb 26 and the Mangla by March 15, forcing all provinces, particularly the Punjab, to ration water for wheat crops, our Lahore reporter, quoting official sources, adds.

Last year, the storage capacity of the dams had reduced to their dead levels by March 10, creating immense water shortage in the country.

The sources said the level of the Tarbela Dam was reducing by .9ft per day and that of Mangla by 1.3ft per day. And if the speed remained so, the Tarbela Dam would reach its dead level by Feb 26 and the Mangla by March 10 to 15, they said.

The Chenab at Marala was 4,970 cusecs and the Kabul 5,240 cusecs, respectively, and the sources said the recent rain would increase their flow to some extent in near future.

Nevertheless, it required widespread rain in the country, specially in the catchments of all rivers, to improve the overall water situation in the remaining part of the current month and in March, they said.

According to sources, the seasonal share of water for Punjab was fixed at 9.67MAF but it would actually be 9.6MAF. During the balance period of February-March the province was expected to get 1.3MAF from the Mangla and .48MAF from the Tarbela commands.

Sources said the current water shortage would not affect the rabi crop. But it would certainly leave a negative impact during the early kharif which lasts from April to June, if there was no or less rain, particularly next month.

The recent snowfall in Afghanistan and over the catchments of the Indus, the Jhelum and Chenab would increase the river flow in May but again the improvement in the situation heavily depended on further rain, they said.