LAHORE, June 22: Rivers flow in the country continued downward trend and registered a 31 per cent drop during the last four days —- from 345,043 cusics on Wednesday last to 238,100 cusics on Saturday.

Saturday’s river flow was also around 12,000 cusics less than the total withdrawal capacity of the provinces, which is 260,000 cusics. This forced the Indus River System Authority to release additional water from the Tarbela lake, thus bringing its level down by two feet; from 1430.58 feet on Friday to 1428.55 feet on Saturday. Since June 8, the combined river flow had been more than total consumption requirements.

According to Saturday’s flow report, the Indus at Tarbela was flowing at 127,800 cusics; 11,900 cusics less than Friday. The Jehlum at Mangla at 30,200; 6,900 cusics less than a day earlier. The Chenab at Marala at 37,900 which 2900 cusics less and the Kabul at Nowshera at 42,200 cusics with a drop of 2,100 cusics. Dropping supply from Tarbela also forced the Punjab to increase its indent from the Mangla lake from 15,000 during the last 10 days to 25,000 cusics on Saturday thus keep the dam level almost constant; it was 1179.20 feet on Friday and 1179.40 on Saturday. The Irsa released 272,200 cusics water for irrigation purposes against the total inflow of 238,100 cusics —- some 34,100 cusics more.

According to a barrages report, Jinnah had an inflow of 205,000 cusics and outflow of 179,000 cusics. Similarly, Chashma 195,800 and 200,000, Taunsa 190,400 and 162,600, Guddu 171,800 and 141,100, Sukkur 139,400 and 84,000 and Kotri 41,500 and 83,00 cusics. Level of Chashma barrage which stood at 643.70 on Friday came down to 641.90 feet on Saturday.

The Mangla lake is still to receive around 1.3 million acre feet water to touch the optimum level of 1202.00 feet. The Punjab irrigation authorities hoped that the lake could fill up if the country had normal monsoon season. About the Tarbela lake, they are confident that it will fill up come what may. It is glacier-fed and gets filled up speedily once they start melting. Water is being released from the lake with the same confidence.