ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) decided on Thursday to divide an anticipated 11 per cent water shortage the country would face during the current Rabi season equitably between Sindh and Punjab and reduce canal withdrawals to manage water requirement till the end of the season.

An Irsa meeting held here with its chairman Rahim Khan in the chair, reviewed the water situation for the ongoing season. The meeting was informed that the country would face a water shortage of about 11 per cent during the current Rabi season due to a higher than anticipated reduction in inflows of rivers, particularly Indus and Kabul.

The authority had originally estimated eight per cent water shortage at the start of the Rabi season. "The overall inflows have reduced by three per cent against that of the average anticipated for the season. The outflows were thus reduced by two per cent in comparison with original estimates, resulting in five per cent less canal withdrawals on an all Pakistan basis," an official statement said.

Any improvement in the overall water situation during the remaining period (till March 31, 2004) would entail better water availability for all the provinces.

The Irsa would ensure that the shortages applied to Punjab and Sindh would be balanced out by the end of the season. The NWFP and Balochistan would not be affected by the shortage due to lack of irrigation infrastructure in the two provinces.

On the basis of 11 per cent shortage, the share of provinces has been revised accordingly. The total share of Punjab for the entire season has been worked out at 17.598 million acre feet (MAF). It has utilized 13.033 MAF by Feb 20, 2004, and its balance till March 31 would be 4.565 MAF.

The total share of Sindh has been worked out at 13.288 MAF. It has so far utilized 10.934 MAF and has 2.354 MAF water as its remaining share till March 31, 2004.

The total share of NWFP has been estimated at 0.701 MAF. It has utilized 0.432 MAF water up to Feb 20. Its remaining share is 0.269 MAF. Balochistan's total share was estimated at 1.022 MAF. It has utilized 0.673 MAF water and its remaining share is 0.249 MAF.

Meanwhile, water level at Tarbela dam was recorded at 1,384.92 feet on Thursday against its dead level of 1,369 feet. Total inflow at Tarbela was 24,300 cusec against an outflow of 43,000 cusec.

The level at Mangla stood at 1,076.60 feet on Thursday against its dead level of 1,040 feet. The Jhelum river inflow at Mangla stood at 19,803 cusec against an outflow of 44,000 cusec.