February 26, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The Indus River System Authority on Tuesday revised provincial water share for the remaining 35 days of the Rabi season owing to improvement in the two storage dams of the country.

An Irsa meeting held here also took a strong exception to a special audit ordered by a joint secretary of the finance division despite the fact that no financial or management irregularity was pointed out by a routine audit concluded recently. It decided to brief the prime minister about the situation through his adviser on water and power and Irsa Sardar Fateh Ali Imrani.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Irsa secretary Sohail Ali Khan said that provincial water shares had been revised in the light of reduction in the overall shortage from 39 per cent to 35.2 per cent.

On the basis of revised estimates after the recent rains, it was noted that Punjab’s full-season share was 12.798 million acre feet (MAF), of which it had utilized 10.597 cusec between Oct 1 to Feb 20. Punjab would utilize 2.201 MAF till March 31 and its shortage has come down to 49 per cent from 59 per cent before recent rains.

Sindh’s full-season water share during Rabi was calculated at 9.663 MAF and it has utilized 7.466 MAF before Feb 20. Its remaining share of 2.197 MAF water would be released till March 15 because it takes 15 days to reach tail-end in Sindh. The water shortage of Sindh has reduced to 23 per cent from 45 per cent estimated before last week’s rains.

Mr Khan said water shortage might further come down owing to anticipated rains in the next few days and the provincial share could be revised further in that case.

He said Irsa would brief the provincial irrigation secretaries about the water situation on March 3.

Sindh and NWFP demanded that the increase in water storage should be utilized efficiently so that it could meet early Kharif requirements. Irsa agreed to the suggestion to the extent that priority would be given to the Rabi requirement.

Total storage in Tarbela was recorded at 0.319 MAF at present, 0.160 MAF in Chashma barrage and 0.851 in Mangla Dam. Water level at Tarbela was recorded at 1,387.57 feet with an inflow of 14,800 cusec and outflow of 5,000 cusec.

Water level at Mangla Dam is at 1,114.6 feet with an inflow and outflow of 22,200 and 3,000 cusec respectively.

The release of 3,000 cusec from Mangla Dam would continue for the time being to flush out the silt.

The Irsa meeting also discussed the situation arising out of a special audit ordered by a joint secretary of the finance division Tehsin Iqbal who is also financial adviser of the water and power ministry.