TAXILA: The recent rainy spells raised the level of water at Khanpur Dam by 19 feet which, according to the officials concerned, would be sufficient to meet the civic and agricultural requirements of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), cantonment areas in Rawalpindi and the KP and Punjab irrigation departments.

“The rains and snowfall in the catchment area of the dam since January added a significant quantity of waterto the reservoir raising the level of water to 1,957 feetabove mean sea level (AMSL) which was just 25 feet below the maximum storage capacity of 1,982 feetAMSL,” dam’s Executive Engineer Taj Ali told Dawn on Saturday.

In reply to a question, he said the increase in the water level had diminished the chances of water shortage in the twin cities till the next monsoon.

“The recent wet spell has significantly increased the water level in three dams and there will be enough water for the twin cities till the next monsoon,” the official said.

Irfan Khattak, an official of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), said the water level in the dam before the rains was 1,938 feet AMSL, just 28 feet above the dead level of 1,910 feetAMSL. But the significant winter rains increased the water level to 1,957 feetAMSL.

He said the inflow which was recorded at 95.18 cusecs per day had now increased to 100 to 110 cusecs per day.

“Around 0.50 feet water is added to the canal of the dam every day due to good rains and snowfall in the catchment area which includes Galliyat.” The official said the outflow was 150 cusecs per day. Moreover, tourists and picnickers are heading to the spot in a large number. The visitors were also seen taking dips and enjoying boating in the water.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2019