ISLAMABAD: The drought-like situation in the twin cities is officially over as water in Simly and Rawal dams has risen.

Officials have decided not to open the flood gates at Rawal Dam for another two weeks, however.

The water in Rawal Lake on Friday reached 1,745.6 feet and officials have decided to wait till it reaches the maximum holding level of 1,752 feet.

“The flood gates operate at 1,742 feet,” said an official of the Punjab Irrigation Department.

“Because of the prolonged dry spell, it has been decided to test all systems including the embankments by filling the lake to its maximum capacity,” the official said.

Rawal Lake at 1,745 feet on Friday, spillways to be opened when it reaches maximum capacity at 1,752 feet

The 17mm rainfall in Murree and some 20mm of rain in the Margalla Hills, upstream Korang River in the early hours of Friday helped increase the water level in Rawal Lake.

The Met Office has predicted rain and thundershowers with gusty winds at scattered places in Rawalpindi and Hazara in the coming days, which will further the water inflow at the lake.

“Since lakes are bowl-shaped, after reaching 1,740 feet, a one foot increase holds more water than at lower levels,” the official said, explaining that it will therefore take some time for water to reach to 1,752 feet.

The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has held meetings in regards to the opening of the spillways in the coming days with Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, the Punjab Irrigation Department and other relevant departments.

“The spillways did not open last year as the water level was around 1,740 feet as a result of which people started encroaching on Korang River land,” an official of the Islamabad Capital Territory administration said.

“A serious exercise is required for clearing structures erected on the river bed so that there is no damage to life and property when the spillways are opened,” he added.

The Met Office has said a seasonal low pressure lies over northwest Balochistan that is inviting the monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea to the upper and central parts of the country which is likely to continue in the coming days.

At the same time, warm moist winds from the Bay of Bengal are moving towards northern and central India due to the low pressure over the plains of India.

As a result, rains are expected on Saturday in Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Islamabad and Kashmir as well as at isolated places in Zhob, Kalat, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal and Gilgit-Baltistan.

A similar situation was witnessed in Simly Dam where the monsoon rains have raised the water level to a comfortable mark.

Water level at Simly Dam on July 10 was at 2,245 feet and at 2,267 feet on Friday.

The water is gradually increasing due to the inflow from the seasonal streams from the Murree hills.

However, water at Simly Dam is far from reaching its maximum level of 2,315 feet and officials say the peak level may be reached in two weeks.

Hot weather coupled with lack of rains had had drastic effect on the capital’s reservoirs and many areas in the city remained in grip of water shortage.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018