LAHORE: Water storage level in country’s mega reservoirs—Tarbela and Mangla dams - is gradually rising due to snow melting and rains in the catchment areas.

According to an official report, the water storage level of Tarbela, which of minimum operating (dead) and maximum conservation levels are 1,392 and 1,550 feet, reached 1,417.23 feet on Friday. Similarly Mangla’s present water level was 1,140.90 feet. The minimum operating and maximum conservation level of Mangla is 1,050 and 1,242 feet.

On March 16, the water level at Tarbela Dam almost dipped to 1,393.35 feet, just 1.35 feet from 1,392 feet, its minimum operating/dead level. However, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) saw the situation as not worrisome.

The report mentions the Indus River inflows at Tarbela is 39,100 cusecs and outflows 15,000 cusecs; the Kabul River at Nowshera inflows 109,600 cusecs and outflows 109,600 cusecs; the Jhelum River at Mangla inflows 60,300 cusecs and outflows 15,000 cusecs; and the Chenab at Marala inflows 29,900 cusecs and outflows 16,000 cusecs.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2019