Mangla, Tarbela dams hit dead level after 15 years

[SunilM]

Mangla, Tarbela dams hit dead level after 15 years

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s major water reservoirs are at a dead level after 15 years, according to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA). The experts claim that availability of water in the country is decreasing at an alarming rate with its demand increasing at the same pace.


Meanwhile, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that chances are high that rainfall will remain below than normal in April and May and temperatures are likely to increase one to two degree than usual.

According to the PMD website, the current level of water at Mangala Dam is 1,050 feet and its dead level is the same. The inflow of water from the dam, was recorded 12,225 cusecs and outflow at 13,401 cusecs, which has been the lowest ever recorded since 2009. Similarly, Tarbela dam current water level and dead level is 1,386 feet, which is lowest since 2009. The inflow and outflow of water is 16,500 cusecs, which is also lowest since 2009.

IRSA spokesperson told The Express Tribune that both the major water reservoirs of the country, Terbela dam and Mangla dam are at dead level since February 22 this year and will continue to remain like this.

Tarbela reaches dead level

“Pakistan is facing such a situation after 15 years and it is expected that it will be further prolonged till mid of June,” he said and added that Pakistan had received below average snowfall in catchment areas this year, therefore it seems like that even snow melting process will also not help much to improve the alarming situation.

The spokesperson said that water shortage has direct impact on agriculture of the country and a slight shortage causes major losses. He added that IRSA has anticipated 40 percent water shortage in the early Kahrif season and the impact of global warming is having an adverse impact on Pakistan

“Unfortunately Pakistan is not ready to deal with the grave impact of climate change despite the situation turning to worse with each passing day. The best option to avoid its negative impact is to have more and more dams,” he said.

“It is expected that Pakistan may receive below average showers in April and May and high temperatures than normal. In May water demand will gradually increase with rise in the temperature,” Chief Met Office, Dr Ghulam Rasul told The Express Tribune.

He said that glacier melting starts in April but its water flows only in Terbela dam. “Though under the impact of climate change, Pakistan could receive a heavy shower, which could improve water situation in the reservoirs as such ‘unexpected or unusual’ weather events are occurring frequently,” he added.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/29...-mar-summer-due-to-delay-in-rlng-power-plants

 

[El Sidd]

Lack of water causes War in the Serengeti as well

 

[SunilM]

Lack of water causes War in the Serengeti as well

They just migrate as per the provisions of the Serengeti Water Treaty. In this case, it will be Europe!!

 

[jetray]

Snow fed rivers might start rising during summer , need to wait for another month or so.

 

[SunilM]

Major crop losses feared as water shortages deepen

Khaleeq KianiUpdated March 23, 2018


ISLAMABAD: The current water flows in River Jhelum are at a 42-year low level and will lead to around 40 per cent water shortage in early-Kharif season, posing serious threat to upcoming crops, authorities said on Thursday.

A technical committee of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) comprising technical experts from federal agencies including Wapda, Meteorological Department and representatives from the four provinces calculated total water availability at 95 million acre feet (MAF) for Kharif season compared to 107 MAF last year and post-Tarbela dam average of 112 MAF.

There would be no carryover water storage in Kharif after many years and the entire irrigation would depend purely on river flows, said Director Operations Irsa, Khalid Idrees Rana, who presided over the meeting.

He said the Met Office briefed the meeting about the prevailing weather conditions and predicted above normal temperatures in April and yet below normal snow melting in catchment areas. Based on current data, the Met office forecast normal rainfall in monsoon season but would firm up those projections by end-May.

Entire irrigation system will have to rely solely on river flows in Kharif

The meeting expressed serious concern over Jhelum flows and noted that the situation was unusual in the outgoing Rabi season and was feared to remain so in Kharif.

The meeting decided to take up the matter with Irsa’s advisory committee when it meets on March 29 and propose close monitoring for a review by mid-April.

It was anticipated that Mangla dam would not be able to achieve filling to full capacity next season.

On the other hand, the authorities estimated normal flows in Indus, Chenab and Kabul rivers during Kharif.

Irsa, Wapda and Sindh government agreed that water losses in Indus Zone would be 40pc in early Kharif and 20pc in late Kharif.

Representatives from Punjab objected to higher estimates for water losses and demanded that these should not be more than 20pc. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also supported this point of view. It was, therefore, decided to refer the matter to the advisory committee and proposed a professional study to ascertain actual water losses. Water losses in Chenab Zone were jointly assessed at 5pc.

Mr Rana said the technical committee estimated 30-40pc water shortage for early Kharif i.e. April but a final conclusion would be made by the advisory committee on March 29.

He said the Sindh government pointed out that flows in Jhelum river stood at historically lows and should be investigated. The meeting also asked Wapda to submit a revised rating table for Mangla and Tarbela dams in view of declining storage capacity. Mangla dam’s dead-level which has reportedly risen from historic 1,040 feet to 1,050 feet, affecting water storage estimates.

The Wapda authorities agreed that post-Tarbela average water availability stood at 112 MAF in Kharif compared to 95MAF estimated for coming season and promised to firm up and submit revised rating tables for both dams by mid-April.

The meeting was informed that flows in Jhelum river had been abnormal since last year and the Pakistan Indus Water Commission (PIWC) had been requested recently to seek from India an early visit to rivers across the line of control under the auspices of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Mr Rana said the regulator’s advisory committee would review water availability situation on March 29 and also determine provincial water shares as per water availability.

River flows in Indus at Tarbela were reported at 17,000 cusecs and the entire quantity was released downstream. Kabul flows at Nowshera were reported at 7,500 cusecs. Inflows at Mangla in Jhelum were recorded at 12,500 cusecs compared to outflows of 13,700 cusecs.

Minimum operating level at Tarbela was reported at 1,386 feet (dead-level) having zero storage. Water level at Mangla was also recorded at 1,050 feet or dead level.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1397003

 

[313ghazi]

There is motorways and metros.

 

[Areesh]

Now this b@stard @SunilM would be worried about all negative news about Pakistan and would open threads about them.

From water in rivers to load shedding to economy to drainage system of Karachi. He would be
worried" about everything and you would useless articles about them.

And we can thank administration of PDF for giving space to this idiot. @waz @The Eagle

 

[Kabira]

this is nothing, in next 40 years tarbela and mangla dam will become dead all year around. Bhasha dam and Kalabgh dam are needed.

 

[punit]

Now this b@stard @SunilM would be worried about all negative news about Pakistan and would open threads about them.

From water in rivers to load shedding to economy to drainage system of Karachi. He would be
worried" about everything and you would useless articles about them.

And we can thank administration of PDF for giving space to this idiot. @waz @The Eagle

So some one is paying you back in ur own coin . Keep bitching.

 

[Viking 63]

Pakistan need to get its act together on water issues, we need more and more Dams to store water and stop wastage thru leaks, we lose around 30-40% water due to severe corruption and incompetence of WAPDA and other responsible to control this situation.

 

[ziaulislam]

Pakistan need to get its act together on water issues, we need more and more Dams to store water and stop wastage thru leaks, we lose around 30-40% water due to severe corruption and incompetence of WAPDA and other responsible to control this situation.

why blame WAPADA here..i think WAPDA has done excellent job, it has prepared studies worth 60,000mw. it had even prepared an excellent funding layout for basha in 2010 when it was thrown in the dustbin by mr nawaz sharif saying who cares about the dam..now since election is here the same plan was recycled and has been implemented this year but obviously will be thrown back into dustbin when PMLN wins the election this year(its when not if, we all know that there is noone that can challenge PMLN)

 

[imrankhan7250]

They are on dead level since long.

They are on dead level since long.

 

[tarrar]

No water management system in Pakistan, mass cutting of trees & zero efforts in making of Bhasha & Kalabagh dam water crises was already on its way & now its here.

 

[Pyara9]

Like few members mentioned, No need to expect mercy from the enemy, If you were expecting it then you're a fool. Point is build your own dams on the rivers you control. End of story.

 

[Areesh]

So some one is paying you back in ur own coin . Keep bitching.

Not really. The b@stard would be banned soon. So medicine is only meant for you and your kind.

You should know that after all these years.