February 20, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 18, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Water level in Mangla and Tarbela dams continued to increase on Wednesday and a high flood was witnessed in Chenab river near Khanki and Qadirabad owing to continuing heavy rains.

An official at Tarbela dam told Dawn on Tuesday that Wapda authorities were drawing 47,500 cusecs water against an approved 5,000 cusecs at 7pm to run their power house, a step that may again create water shortage in the coming days.

Water level in Mangla dam increased to 1,100 feet on Wednesday evening from 1,075 feet a day earlier. Source said this was a record in over 30-year life of the dam that water level had risen by 60 feet in just two days.

Water level in Tarbela also increased to 1,381 feet on Tuesday evening against 1,376 feet a day earlier. Tarbela’s dead level is at 1,369 feet.

Inflows at Tarbela was recorded at 58,900 cusecs in the day but later reduced to 42,000 in the evening owing to a drop in rainfall’s intensity in Northern Areas.

Irsa chief engineer Amanullah told Dawn that Chenab river was in high flood at Khanki and Qadirabad. He said the Indus River System Authority had decided to release only 5,000 cusecs from Tarbela instead of 20,000 cusecs allocated a day earlier because water flow in Chenab was sufficient to meet requirement in the lower part of the country.

The flow of Kabul river was recorded at 17,500 cusecs on Wednesday morning which later dropped to 13,700 cusecs against around 19,000 cusecs on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Met department said on Wednesday the five-day rains were highest in any winter season over the last 30 years. According to the Met office forecast, weather would remain mainly cold and dry in most parts of the country and isolated light rain and snowfall was expected over the hills and upper Punjab, upper NWFP and Kashmir.

The highest rainfall was recorded at Rawlakot at 356 millimetre (mm) followed by 347mm in Garhi Dopatta (AJK).

LAHORE: The current spell of rains have improved the water situation in the country and Irsa has convened a meeting on Feb 25 to recalculate shortages for the rest of the Rabi season.

Sources in Irsa claimed Rabi crops would not be needing any water till March 5, not only because of sufficient sub-soil moisture but a drop in temperatures. However, these crops would require water for 10 days after March 5, that is up to March 15. Both Mangla and Tarbela dams have sufficient water to meet the requirement.

Punjab irrigation officials substantiated the claim and maintained that the province was already planning on no-shortage lines.

They said snowfall over the hills could also help increase the level at Mangla.

Irsa chairman Nasar Ali Rajput had told the press on Tuesday that provinces were still facing water shortage up to 59 per cent.

However, a mini-flood situation at Mangla had increased the lake level by 40 feet and at Tarbela dam by three feet.

The combined water at both dams on Wednesday improved further and touched the 50,3600 cusecs mark. Authorities released only 30,130 cusecs and saved 20,230 cusecs in both dams.

According to the barrage report, inflow at Jinnah Barrage was recorded at 103,200 cusecs and outflow 97,700 cusecs; Chashma 69,100 and 44,000; Taunsa 37,000 and 29,100; Guddu 29,800 and 26,700; Sukkur 18,300 and 1,400; and Kotri 2,300 with no outflow.