ISLAMABAD: The country is facing a water shortage of 30 per cent for the Rabi season, as compared to 32 per cent paucity last season, due to insufficient rainfall and inadequate water reservoirs in the country.

Sources said that the Rabi season has already begun and Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has also started releasing water based on the indents filed by provinces.

They said there was a need to expedite water conservation plan as large amounts of water were wasted due to unavailability of storage capacity. The country faced 32 per cent water shortage during the last season, however despite the paucity of water; a bumper wheat crop was produced.

The sources said 34.5MAF water was estimated for the Rabi season but the country would only have 21MAF of water. Sindh has slashed its water demand by 25,000 cusecs and now it would get 75,000 cusecs of water instead of 100,000 cusecs, they added.

Punjab was receiving 105,000 cusecs water daily, Balochistan 3,000 cusecs and the NWFP 2,500 cusecs.

The sources said the country faced a water shortage of about 7 per cent during the Kharif season. Sindh faced a shortage of 9 per cent compared to 7 per cent by Punjab during the season.

The water shortage might be mitigated in case of heavy rainfall in the winter and likely melting of snow in the western Himalayas.

They said that India not only installed pumps at Chenab River but also allowed generation of electricity by violating the Indus Basin accord due to which Pakistan had to face 35 per cent water shortage in the last two years.

Meanwhile Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Wednesday released 90,279 cusecs of water from various rim stations.

According to IRSA, overall water inflow from various reservoirs recorded was 49,929 cusecs.

Water level at Tarbela Dam recorded was at 1,475.30 feet. The present water level at the dam was 106.30 feet higher than the dead level of 1,369 feet.

Water inflow at the dam was recorded at 27,700 cusecs while outflow was 50,000 cusecs.

The water level at Mangla Dam was recorded at 1,159.80 feet which was 119.80 feet higher than the dead level of 1,040 feet. Water inflow at the dam was recorded at 6,950 cusecs.

The contribution of Kabul and Chenab was recorded at 8,300 cusecs and 6,979 cusecs, respectively.—APP