HYDERABAD: Although water level in Indus is currently showing a declining trend and the status of ‘medium flood’ has changed to ‘low flood’, managements of the Guddu and Kotri barrages appeared satisfied that they will now be able to ensure adequate flows in the canals that feed rice cultivation areas, besides allowing post-Kotri releases.

Water level in the river had started rising on July 30-31 when peak of flood from Punjab amid torrential rains there passed through the two barrages. Since then, Indus was recording ‘medium flood’ in Sindh.

After losing the Kharif season to water shortage, growers have started rice cultivation somewhat early, according to the Sindh Abadgar Board.

The shortage at Kotri Barrage was reported in the May-June period when rice growing areas were supposed to be provided water under the Water Apportionment Accord 1991. Besides upper Sindh, Kotri Barrage’s canals -- New Phulleli, Old Phulleli and Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder -- also feed these areas. The New and Old Phulleli canals, both non-perennial channels, feed areas in Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan and Sujawal districts for rice cultivation.

“These two canals have to be supplied water as mandated under the 1991 Accord,” according to Kotri Barrage chief engineer Haji Khan Jamali. “Demand for Akram Wah also increases in Kharif and the barrage didn’t have adequate water flows in May and June,” he explained. But, he said, water was being released Kotri downstream now as flows had improved since around mid-July.

According to Mahmood Nawaz Shah, Sindh Abadgar Board vice president, water flows have indeed improved and rice crop is said to have been cultivated somewhat early.

“Still, growers associated with SAB are complaining of disrupted supplies under the rotation regime which is unfair and unjustifiable,” he said, and identified some of the areas as those fed through Nara, Rohri and Khairpur Feeder channels of Sukkur Barrage.

Had there been no rains in July in Sindh, the shortage would have aggravated, he said.

Flood situation

Indus has reverted to low flood at Guddu and Kotri barrages. While Guddu Barrage has been in low flood for the last three days, Kotri had attained such position five days ago.

Kotri, being the last barrage on Indus, is receiving flows that had passed Sukkur downstream seven to eight days back when it had attained the level of ‘medium flood’ along with Guddu.

At present, Guddu is getting floodwaters due to rainfall in the catchment areas of Taunsa and Dera Ghazi Khan, where hill torrents enter Indus. Sukkur Barrage control room in-charge Abdul Aziz Soomro anticipates that Guddu would be receiving floodwaters for another five to six days.

“All off-taking canals are getting flows at the three barrages [in Sindh],” said Mr Soomro.

Tarbela attains maximum level

Tarbela Dam, Sindh’s primary source of water, attained the maximum storage level of 1,550 on Friday morning, as per the figures available here. Mangla dam, which had reached 1,238.15 storage level on Aug 11, was also inching towards the maximum level of 1,242.

According to Indus River System Authority (Irsa) spokesman Khalid Idris Rana, there is still a rising trend in Tarbela and, therefore, post-dam flows will continue. He attributed the flood turning low at Guddu to sustainable flows from eastern rivers — Sutlej, Ravi and Bias -- coupled with rainfall.

The Pakistan Meteorological Depart-ment has already forecast rainfall over the next two to three days (Aug 12-14).

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2023