March, 20 2005	Sunday	09 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 19: The upcoming Kharif season would start with carryover storage of up to 2.5 MAF of water and there would be no shortage during the whole season for the first time in six years. This was officially announced here on Thursday by the ministry of water and power after a meeting of stakeholders. Presided over by Water and Power Minister Liaqat Ali Jatoi, the meeting was attended by officials of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), chief engineering adviser and ministry of water and power. The meeting was informed that sufficient water was available for all provinces for the Kharif season, starting April 1, 2005.. Irsa chairman Aman Gul Khattak told the meeting that about 1.5 to 2.5 MAF of water would be carried over for the new Kharif season. “It has been estimated that there would be no shortage of water and the provinces would get their normal share,” he added. Since there would be no shortages, the water distribution would be made on the basis of para-2 of the 1991 Water Accord instead of the historic-use basis under 14-B, applied in case of shortages. Mr Gul told the meeting that conjunctive use of both the reservoirs was being carried out to avoid wastages and Wapda was being facilitated to carry out construction work of the Mangla-raising project.