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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to have best water availability this year in more than a decade, leading to enough power generation, good crops and surplus water flows into the sea.
According to estimates finalised by advisory committee of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), provinces were currently utilising less than half of their allocated shares. The just concluding Rabi season has also ended on a zero shortage after many years.
Irsa spokesman Khalid Idrees Rana told Dawn that provinces utilised about 33 million acre feet (MAF) of water and concluded with a carryover of two MAF against 10-year average of 1.8 MAF. Because of recent rains, the carryover stock in dams increased to 2.7 MAF.
Also read: Irsa warns of water crisis, seeks PSDP freeze
“Even today, about 150,000 cusec water is being stored in dams and storage in dams has reached 3.4 MAF on April 3 against 2.2 MAF last year and 1.3 MAF of 10 year average”, he said adding that the total river flows currently stood at 300,000 cusec against last year’s 120,000 cusec.
He said Punjab was currently drawing only 20,000 cusec water against its allocated share of 90,000 cusec while Sindh was utilising only 43,000 cusec against its share of 66,000 cusec. About 17,000 cusec water is currently flowing into the sea.
Responding to a question, Mr Rana said that about 2.2 MAF water had so far flowed into the sea by now, but added that current rains were not beneficial for wheat crop, which was in its last leg of maturity.
During the upcoming Kharif season, about 112 MAF of water has been estimated to flow in the river system.
The Irsa has decided to store about 9.7 MAF of water for the next Rabi, leaving behind net water availability of about 86 MAF after accounting for conveyance losses of 16.4 MAF.
“We are expecting wet cycle for Kharif,” said Mr Rana, adding that about 14.8 MAF of water was anticipated to flow uncontrolled down the sea. About 71.3 MAF water would be distributed among the four provinces. This would include 35.5 MAF for Punjab, 32.24 MAF for Sindh, 2.06 MAF for Balochistan and 0.82 MAF for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Chashma Right Bank Canal.
Last year, total water shared by provinces stood at 69.3 MAF against 10-year average of 64.5 MAF. The flows into Chenab River had also gone beyond 85,000 cusec at Punjnad that would increase to 100,000 cusec at Guddu barrage in a few days and about 50,000 cusec would flow down the sea.
Because of surplus water in the system at present, there was no need for discharges from Tarbela dam but authorities were releasing about 10,000 cusec on the demand of power sector authorities to avert collapse of the energy system.
Sources said the Sindh government had raised objections over the opening of Chashma-Jhelum Link canal but were rejected with majority.
It was reported that excessive releases were made during recent Rabi season on the desire of Wapda authorities for repair works under an agreement signed by representatives of all the four provinces and then authenticated by all the Irsa members.
The agreement required reduced releases from Tarbela dam and higher from Mangla dam with the condition that Mangla filling would be facilitated later through link canal to recoup excessive withdrawals from Mangla dam.
Good water availability expected this year - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
According to estimates finalised by advisory committee of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), provinces were currently utilising less than half of their allocated shares. The just concluding Rabi season has also ended on a zero shortage after many years.
Irsa spokesman Khalid Idrees Rana told Dawn that provinces utilised about 33 million acre feet (MAF) of water and concluded with a carryover of two MAF against 10-year average of 1.8 MAF. Because of recent rains, the carryover stock in dams increased to 2.7 MAF.
Also read: Irsa warns of water crisis, seeks PSDP freeze
“Even today, about 150,000 cusec water is being stored in dams and storage in dams has reached 3.4 MAF on April 3 against 2.2 MAF last year and 1.3 MAF of 10 year average”, he said adding that the total river flows currently stood at 300,000 cusec against last year’s 120,000 cusec.
He said Punjab was currently drawing only 20,000 cusec water against its allocated share of 90,000 cusec while Sindh was utilising only 43,000 cusec against its share of 66,000 cusec. About 17,000 cusec water is currently flowing into the sea.
Responding to a question, Mr Rana said that about 2.2 MAF water had so far flowed into the sea by now, but added that current rains were not beneficial for wheat crop, which was in its last leg of maturity.
During the upcoming Kharif season, about 112 MAF of water has been estimated to flow in the river system.
The Irsa has decided to store about 9.7 MAF of water for the next Rabi, leaving behind net water availability of about 86 MAF after accounting for conveyance losses of 16.4 MAF.
“We are expecting wet cycle for Kharif,” said Mr Rana, adding that about 14.8 MAF of water was anticipated to flow uncontrolled down the sea. About 71.3 MAF water would be distributed among the four provinces. This would include 35.5 MAF for Punjab, 32.24 MAF for Sindh, 2.06 MAF for Balochistan and 0.82 MAF for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Chashma Right Bank Canal.
Last year, total water shared by provinces stood at 69.3 MAF against 10-year average of 64.5 MAF. The flows into Chenab River had also gone beyond 85,000 cusec at Punjnad that would increase to 100,000 cusec at Guddu barrage in a few days and about 50,000 cusec would flow down the sea.
Because of surplus water in the system at present, there was no need for discharges from Tarbela dam but authorities were releasing about 10,000 cusec on the demand of power sector authorities to avert collapse of the energy system.
Sources said the Sindh government had raised objections over the opening of Chashma-Jhelum Link canal but were rejected with majority.
It was reported that excessive releases were made during recent Rabi season on the desire of Wapda authorities for repair works under an agreement signed by representatives of all the four provinces and then authenticated by all the Irsa members.
The agreement required reduced releases from Tarbela dam and higher from Mangla dam with the condition that Mangla filling would be facilitated later through link canal to recoup excessive withdrawals from Mangla dam.
Good water availability expected this year - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
