LAHORE, Aug 22: The overall water shortage in the country has come down to 10 per cent against early projections of 22 per cent and last year’s scarcity of 26 per cent.

With improved inflows in the rivers, the Punjab has received 23.374 million acre feet water against its share of 25.751maf till Aug 20. Its overall water shortage came down to nine per cent. For Sindh, the shortage came down to 10.8 per cent by the same period.

The combined river flow, meanwhile, maintained a downward trend on Thursday with total supply going down to 287,400 cusecs; of which 227,700 cusecs were for irrigation purposes and 59,700 cusecs were stored in two dams.

The Indus river at Tarbela further came down to 174,100 cusecs and the outflow was reduced to 117,700 cusecs. The lake level went up to 1,541.75 feet — 8.25 feet short of 1,550 feet optimum level. The lake now stores around 6.69 million acre feet of live capacity of 7.2maf. On the corresponding day last year, the dam’s level was at 1,550.15 feet.

The Jhelum river at Mangla also recorded low supplies with 22,000 cusecs and outflow of 18,700 cusecs. The lake level has gone up to 1,205.10 feet, 3.1 feet above the optimum level, with a total storage of 4.839maf against optimum capacity of 4.6maf.

According to the barrages report, Jinnah had an inflow of 149,000 cusecs and an outflow of 140,900, Chashma had 148,700 and outflow of 160,000, Taunsa 165,100 and 136,600, Guddu 263,900 and 234,400, Sukkur 234,400 and 178,600 and Kotri 20,700 cusecs with no outflow.

The Chenab river had an inflow of 60,900 cusecs at Marala and the river Kabul dipped to 30,400 cusecs.

Meanwhile, widespread rains were reported from different parts of the country. According to meteorological office’s report, during the last 24 hours, Palandari received 38mm of rain, Shinkiari 36mm, Rawalakot 32mm, Balakot 30mm, Lahore (Jallo 28mm and airport 27mm), Domel 16mm, Sialkot 15mm, Murree and Chattarkallas 12mm each, Muzaffarabad 11mm, Marala 8mm, Palkhu 6mm, Gahri Dupatta, Phulra, Besham and Sehkot 3mm each and traces in many areas.

Scattered rainfall was reported over the upper catchment areas of the river Chenab along with Lahore division. Isolated rainfall was also reported from the upper catchment of Ravi and Jhelum along with Kohat, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Dera Ismail Khan and Multan divisions.

According to the Met office, all rivers in the province were flowing below low level and, as such, there would be no chances of flood. But it forecast isolated thundershowers in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Bahawalpur and Multan divisions.