ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has approved a canal closure plan prepared by the provinces for about 20 days, official sources told Dawn.

Under the plan, Punjab and Sindh have stopped releases for Taunsa and Kotri barrages, respectively, with effect from Monday. However, flows from Kotri will stop on Dec 25 because of releases already made from Guddu barrage.

Sindh has requested canal closure from Sukkur from Jan 6, while Punjab has sought closure of Thal canal on Jan 1, Tarimu on Jan 7 and Punjnad on Jan 12.

The closure is an annual feature in winter for desilting and repair of canals throughout the country.

Flows in Tarbela downstream Kotri have reduced to 20,000 cusecs, which would drop to about 10,000 cusecs from Dec 20 because of the canal closure.

The sources said the river flows had reduced almost to a negligible level. Total inflows in dams on Saturday, they said, had declined to 40,000 cusecs against total outflows of about 67,540 cusecs. Total flows in Indus River were recorded at 17,300 cusecs, followed by 8,850 cusecs in river Kabul, 7,247 cusecs in Jhelum and 6,590 cusecs in Chenab River.

The sources said storage in Tarbela Dam had reduced to 900,000 acre-feet, in Taunsa barrage to 60,000 acre-feet and Mangla Dam to 1.2 million acre-feet on Saturday.

They said the water situation had improved after recent rains that helped farmers achieve about 80 per cent of the target ahead of schedule, particularly in barani areas.

Irsa had originally estimated about 22 per cent shortage but recent rains improved the situation.

The sources said Punjab was ahead of other provinces with over 85 per cent cultivation by Dec 15, while Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP had brought more than 70 per cent of their target area under cultivation by the weekend.

They said even though the meteorological department was forecasting lower than normal rains during the season, experts at Irsa believed that the country would receive normal rainfall and the water shortage could fall below 22 per cent.