TAXILA: The spillways of Khanpur Dam are expected to be opened in a couple of days as the water level in the reservoir was just four feet below the maximum conservation level on Monday.

An official said the water level in the dam was recorded at 1,978.15 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), just four feet below the maximum conservation level of 1,982 feet AMSL.

“We are optimistic that the water level would reach its maximum level in next a couple of days as the dam witnessed significant increase in its inflow,” said the official, adding the water level in the dam on Sunday was 1796.95 feet above AMSL and in one day it increased by two feet.

He said the inflow in the dam was recorded on Monday at 1,274 cusecs and keeping in view the high inflow the water level was expected to reach the maximum level on Wednesday or Thursday and subsequently the spillways would be opened to flush out extra water into the River Haro.

Water in reservoir four feet below maximum conservation level, says official

Responding to a question, the official said that flooding in River Haro was expected after flushing the extra water, however, the inhabitants settled near the water sources, especially River Haro, are being informed about it through announcements in mosques. Responding to another question, he said the dam was almost 90.85 per cent filled while the outflow was recorded at 219 cusecs on Monday.

The official said the water level in the dam was recorded at 1,939 feet on August 29 last year - about 39 feet low than the preset level - because of the heavy rains in the catchment areas of the dam, especially Murree, Ayubia and other hilly areas in upper Hazara.

Meanwhile, the beauty of the lake has attracted people from different areas.

The dam not only provides drinking water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi but is also a source for irrigation in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The official said there would be no a shortage of water in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The dam’s high water level will also help in maintaining groundwater level from Khanpur to Attock, he added.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2022