LAHORE, April, 17: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Wednesday allowed the opening of Taunsa-Panjnad Link canal to transfer 5,000 cusecs of Punjab’s share of water from the Indus arm.

The Punjab has been demanding opening of the canal to irrigate around 1.5 million acres of Rahim Yar Khan where cotton sowing may shortly be in full swing.

Meanwhile, water flow in all rivers on Wednesday improved a bit with Indus at Tarbela flowing at 26,100 cusecs and Mangla at Jehlum at 37,600 cusecs. Some 25,000 and 24,000 cusecs were released from both lakes respectively. The Magla lake touched 1,119.70 feet level. Its optimum level is 1,202 feet, but Wapda announced to raise it to 1212 feet this year.

The Chenab flow also registered minor improvement with 19,500 cusecs at Marala and Kabul at 25,200 at Nowshehra.

According to the Wapda report, barrage situation on Wednesday was:

Jinnah had inflow of 39,600 and outflow of 35,600 cusecs, Chashma 40,500 and 33.500, Taunsa 25,300 and 19,700, Guddu 25,200 and 25,200, Sukkur 25,800 and 7,400 and Kotri 600 with no outflow.

The Punjab canals were receiving around 13,000 cusecs from the Indus Command, with CJ Link Canal at 4,000, CRBC 3000, DG Khan canal 3,500, Muzaffargrah canal at 500 and TP Link canal at 1,612 cusecs.

According to telemetry report, upstream pond level of Chashma barrage stood at 638.15 feet and downstream at 607.90 feet. The upstream pond level of Taunsa barrage at 443.50 feet and downstream 423.10 feet.