December 21, 2002	Saturday	Shawwal 16, 1423

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LAHORE, Dec 20: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) is scheduled to meet on Saturday (today) at Islamabad to finalize the Chashma closure plan for annual repairs.

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), which manages the barrage, had sought its closure for a month (from Dec 26 to Jan 25) for repairs.

But Sindh and Punjab got jitters on the request, as both the provinces are in a process of Rabi crop sowing.

Punjab, under its canal closure plan, wanted to suspend water supply for for 15 days and use the time for the repairing of Taunsa barrage.

Sindh, which also wanted to close its canals for 15 days, needs water from Jan 11. It means that water has to be released from Chashma barrage by Jan 1.

Punjab had put up a plan to re-route water through the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal. But the problem arose owing to small size of the canal as Sindh will be needing 25,000 to 28,000 cusecs of water after Jan 11, whereas the capacity of the link canal is only for 22,000 cusecs. Sindh either have to put up with the increased shortages or Wapda and Punjab will have to change barrages repair plan.