LAHORE, Feb 5: The combined river flow on Wednesday maintained its low trend with total supplies dipping to 33,000 cusecs and releases going up to 61,500 cusecs.

The gap of 28,500 cusecs between the supply and demand pushed levels of both dams further down. The Tarbela dam level stood at 1,412.50 feet, only 43.50 feet above the dead level of 1,369 feet. Similarly, the Mangla lake level went down to 1,083.20 feet, only 43.20 feet above the dead level of 1,040 feet.

The river Indus at Tarbela recorded an inflow of 11,700 cusecs and outflow of 32,000. The river Jhelum provided only 8,800 cusecs to Mangla lake against outflow of 17,000. River Chenab registered an inflow of 6,800 and Kabul 5,700 cusecs.

According to the barrage report, inflow at Jinnah barrage was 42,800 cusecs and outflow 42,800 cusecs, Chashma 41,400 and 40,000, Taunsa 27,000 and 22,800, Guddu 23,600 and 19,800, Sukkur 18,300 and 6,600 and Kotri 3,800 with no outflow.

The outflow from both dams increased with the opening of canals both in the Punjab and Sindh. The Punjab started supply of water from Feb 1 after extending canal closure for two weeks. Sindh started supplies in mid-January because of early maturity period of wheat. At present, canals in both provinces flow at their maximum capacity within the limits set due to water shortage.

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) had planned to take water from both the dams by the end of February or first week of March, and would manage the rest of the season according to the flow of rivers.

MINISTER: Punjab Irrigation Minister Amir Sultan Cheema on Wednesday directed the authorities to start supply of water to southern Punjab within a day. He also ordered them to make a comprehensive plan enabling the department to supply more water to Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur districts.