LAHORE, Dec 2: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has decided to gradually reduce water releases from Tarbela and Mangla dams during December and January.

According to a Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) press release issued here on Tuesday, the reduction will cause a decline in power generation leading to an increase in loadshedding. It said that Pepco had worked out a plan under which loadshedding in urban and rural areas would be carried out for four and six hours, respectively.

The load will be managed by power distribution companies which will hold consultations with industries before preparing a schedule.

The outflow from Tarbela will drop to 48,000 cusecs and from Mangla 24,000 cusecs during the first 10 days of December. Over the next 10 days, the flow will decline to 35,000 cusecs and 22,000 cusecs, respectively, and in the last 10 days of the month to 20,000 cusecs and 19,000 cusecs.

During the first 10 days of January, releases from Tarbela and Mangla will drop to 8,500 cusecs and zero, respectively.

According to Pepco, the reduced flow will cause a drop in hydropower generation by 2,000-2,500MW.