LAHORE, March 21: For the first time since 1994, Pakistan is likely to enter the coming Kharif season with sufficient water, say water managers. Officials involved in preliminary kharif calculations say that the Tarbela and Mangla dams have now sufficient water to see the country through traditionally water-starved kharif period which begins from April 1.
“On Wednesday, Tarbella Lake had one million acre feet (MAF) water and Mangla around 1.4maf,” says Mehmoodul Hassan Siddiqi, consultant on Indus Basin Water Treaty. The total storage stood at 2.4maf on Wednesday, against combined storage of 0.07maf last year on the corresponding day.
Recent rains, according to him, have also substantially increased river flows. Chenab on Wednesday was flowing at 186,000 cusecs against 24,500 cusecs last year on the same day. Similarly, Jhelum and Kabul rivers were flowing at 155,000 cusecs and 86,400 cusecs, respectively, against 20,000 and 13,800 cusecs last year. “The flows which have already increased storage by almost 2maf are set to increase further as rains in catchment areas continue.”
Siddiqi said in the given situation the country should start next kharif season with at least a carryover of 1.5maf. Should that happen, it will be for the first time after 1994 that Pakistan will begin the season on a positive note,” he said.
Ch Mazhar Ali, chief of Research Wing of the Punjab Irrigation Department, says widespread rains during February and the current month provided crucial third watering to wheat besides enabling the country to enhance storage.
“Massive snowfall is likely to ensure that Mangla has ample storage this year,” he said. On Wednesday, the dam level jumped from 1121 feet to 1130 in 24 hours, and the Jhelum was expected to sustain the flow because of rains in catchment areas. Tarbela Dam also went up by four feet during the same period.
Farmers bodies are also optimistic and expect better yields of cotton, rice and sugarcane crops. Both cotton and rice are major cash crops and generate over 60 per cent of foreign exchange for the country.
“Farmers have been facing shortages in early kharif since long,” says Rabia Sultan of the Punjab Water Council.
She said the present water availability should help farmers meet national target for cotton crop. “Though it is too early to calculate benefits, it will do a lot of good by all stretches of imagination,” she said.
