June 26, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 25: With improved river flows, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has called off a meeting of the advisory committee that was convened to discuss reduction in provincial shares owing to excessive water releases for power generation, it is learnt.

Informed sources said the provinces had already started reducing their indents owing to ongoing heavy rains in many parts of the country. At the same time, the river flows have significantly gone up in the last few days and, as a result, the chances of water shortages have reduced.

The advisory committee in its meeting scheduled for Tuesday was to discuss Balochistan’s complaints against Sindh for supplying 50 per cent less than its share approved by Irsa. Balochistan was getting just 6,000 cusecs of water against its share of 12,000 cusecs approved by Irsa.

The province has now started getting over 9,000 cusecs from Sindh and hence the advisory committee meeting has been called off.

The sources said that river flows had increased from 253,000 cusecs a few days ago to about 347,000 cusecs on Monday, raising hopes that there would be no water shortage.These sources said the Met office had already advised the irrigation authorities to stop or reduce flows from the barrages for the time being.

Flows in the Indus River that stood at 117,000 cusecs four days ago improved to 193,000 cusecs on Monday. As a result of heavy rains in Karachi, Badin, Thatha and Larkana, Sindh reduced its indent by 5,000 cusecs on Monday from 17,000 cusecs to 165,000 and is likely to further cut its demand in a few days. Other provinces are also expected to reduce their indents. Punjab is currently drawing about 143,000 cusecs, Balochistan 12,000 cusecs and NWFP 3,000 cusecs.

The sources said there were no immediate signs of flood in rivers. Water level at Tarbela stood at 1429.62 feet on Monday against its dead level of 1369 feet and about 70,000 cusecs of water was being stored in this reservoir daily.

The level in Mangla dam was recorded at 1180.65 feet on Monday against its dead level of 1040 feet. About 10,000 cusecs of water was being stored every day in the reservoir and would go up further as a result of continuing rains in the Jhelum catchment areas.

Irsa had estimated surplus water for the current crop season, highest in a decade, but power shortages forced the government to seek Irsa’s support in containing the countrywide loadshedding.

In the process, Wapda alone utilised 5.5 million acres feet of water for power generation, although a major part of this could not be utilised for irrigation. Dams and barrages are primarily for irrigation water.

Early this month, Irsa had to apply about 17 per cent cut in provincial shares when the Indus water system experienced its first dip. The situation, however, improved later before worsening in the second half of June when temperatures in northern areas dropped.