ISLAMABAD - The country is likely to face up to 27 per cent water shortage during early Kharif season (starting April 1st) as Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has convened meeting of the advisory committee today (Thursday).
The technical committee of the IRSA has anticipated from 20pc to 27pc water shortage for the early Kharif season while for later Kharif the shortage is likely to be 8pc to 10pc, official source told The Nation here Wednesday. The IRSA’s advisory committee that is meeting here today (Thursday) will give final approval to the recommendations of the technical committee regarding water availability, losses and share of the provinces during Kharif season. The advisory committee meets with Chairman IRSA in chair while its other members include the provincial member of the authority.
The Water Accord 1991 empowered IRSA to determine water availability in the country and provincial share twice a year, once for Kharif season and the other for RABI season. Rabi season starts from October 1st and ends on March 31st, while Kharif starts from April 1st and continue till September 30th. Since, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were exempted from cuts in the share and the shortage in water would be distributed between Sindh and the Punjab. According to the source, it is anticipated that during Kharif season the water flow in the system would be 109 million acres feet (MAF). The source said that 13.5 MAF water will also be stored in the reservoir during the season.
Meanwhile, the water availability data released by IRSA said that inflow in Indus at Tarbela was 22100 cusecs and outflow 21300 cusecs, inflow in Kabul at Nowshera 6900 cusecs and outflow 6900 cusecs, inflow in Jhelum at Mangla 32100 cusecs and outflow 40000 cusecs, and inflow in Chenab at Marala 15900 cusecs and outflow 9700 cusecs. The data reveals that Tarbela is currently is at dead level. Currently against the minimum operating level of 1392 feet Tarbela is presently at 1392.00 feet against the maximum conservation level 1550 feet, live storage as of Wednesday is 0.000 million acre feet (MAF). Mangla against the minimum operating level of 1050 feet is presently at 1101.20 feet and the maximum conservation level of Mangla is 1242 feet while the live storage as of Wednesday is 0.379 MAF.
Chashma is also currently operating at dead level. Against the minimum operating level of 638.15 feet it is currently at 638.15 feet. Having maximum conservation level 649 feet, live storage of the reservoir on Wednesday was 0.000 MAF.
The technical committee of the IRSA has anticipated from 20pc to 27pc water shortage for the early Kharif season while for later Kharif the shortage is likely to be 8pc to 10pc, official source told The Nation here Wednesday. The IRSA’s advisory committee that is meeting here today (Thursday) will give final approval to the recommendations of the technical committee regarding water availability, losses and share of the provinces during Kharif season. The advisory committee meets with Chairman IRSA in chair while its other members include the provincial member of the authority.
The Water Accord 1991 empowered IRSA to determine water availability in the country and provincial share twice a year, once for Kharif season and the other for RABI season. Rabi season starts from October 1st and ends on March 31st, while Kharif starts from April 1st and continue till September 30th. Since, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were exempted from cuts in the share and the shortage in water would be distributed between Sindh and the Punjab. According to the source, it is anticipated that during Kharif season the water flow in the system would be 109 million acres feet (MAF). The source said that 13.5 MAF water will also be stored in the reservoir during the season.
Meanwhile, the water availability data released by IRSA said that inflow in Indus at Tarbela was 22100 cusecs and outflow 21300 cusecs, inflow in Kabul at Nowshera 6900 cusecs and outflow 6900 cusecs, inflow in Jhelum at Mangla 32100 cusecs and outflow 40000 cusecs, and inflow in Chenab at Marala 15900 cusecs and outflow 9700 cusecs. The data reveals that Tarbela is currently is at dead level. Currently against the minimum operating level of 1392 feet Tarbela is presently at 1392.00 feet against the maximum conservation level 1550 feet, live storage as of Wednesday is 0.000 million acre feet (MAF). Mangla against the minimum operating level of 1050 feet is presently at 1101.20 feet and the maximum conservation level of Mangla is 1242 feet while the live storage as of Wednesday is 0.379 MAF.
Chashma is also currently operating at dead level. Against the minimum operating level of 638.15 feet it is currently at 638.15 feet. Having maximum conservation level 649 feet, live storage of the reservoir on Wednesday was 0.000 MAF.
