Reservoirs'' storage level goes alarmingly low

The country''s reservoirs'' storage level has declined by 87 per cent to 0.89 MAF from 6.81 MAF of corresponding period last year, sending alarming signals not only for Kharif crops maturing period but for forthcoming Rabi season.
Informed sources told Business Recorder that water requirements of provinces are being met with 14 per cent shortage for Kharif from current storage of reservoirs against earlier shortage of 9 per cent but in the coming days the situation would deteriorate as Tarbela would again touch dead level after 10 days, which implies that only inflows will be available for provinces.
The total capacity stood at 900,000 acre-feet with the country''s two biggest dams - Tarbela and Mangla - holding 128,000 acre-feet and 718,000 acre-feet respectively. The water capacity at Chashma Barrage is 44,000 acre-feet only. Pakistan''s total water storage capacity is 13.681 MAF.
On Monday 109,000 cusecs were released to Punjab and 145,000 cusecs to Sindh, followed by 14,000 cusecs to Balochistan and 3100 cusecs to KP.
"Tarbela is at a very alarming stage. Today''s storage is 0.128 MAF while historical low was 0.254 MAF. Mangla is also at a very critical level as Monday''s storage level was 0.718 MAF against historical low level of 0.914 MAF," said Irsa spokesperson Rana Khalid.
The country''s river inflows have also drastically decreased by about 35 per cent to 259,000 cusecs from 396,000 cusecs. Chenab River, after peaking at 109,000 cusecs, has now declined to 72,000 cusecs.
The spokesperson said that Irsa has re-adjusted Sindh releases after getting some rainwater at Chashma.
According to officials, inflows were 108600 cusecs and outflows were 141200 cusecs in Indus at Tarbela whereas inflows stood at 47000 cusecs and outflows 47000 cusecs in Kabul at Nowshera.
Inflows were recorded at 30600 cusecs and outflows 11700 cusecs in Jehlum at Mangla whereas inflows stood at 72600 cusecs and outflows at 43600 cusecs in Chenab at Marala.
On Monday, inflows were 175500 cusecs and outflows 170000 cusecs at Jinnah barrage whereas inflows were 183400 cusecs and outflows 170000 cusecs at Chashma. Inflows were 185600 cusecs and outflows 163900 cusecs at Taunsa. Inflows were 8900 cusecs and outflows were nil cusecs at Punjnad. Inflows were 131400 cusecs and outflows 96000 cusecs respectively at Guddu while inflows recorded at 81600 cusecs and outflows 33700 cusecs at Sukkur. Inflows were 36600 cusecs and outflows nil at Kotri.
Tarbela''s minimum operating level is 1386 feet whereas its present level is 1398.28 feet, maximum conservation level 1550 feet, live storage today 0.128 million acre feet (MAF). Mangla''s minimum operating level is 1050 feet while its present level is 1117.05 feet, maximum conservation level 1242 feet and live storage today is 0.718 MAF.
Chashma''s minimum operating level is 638.15 feet whereas its present level is 641.20 feet. Maximum conservation level is 649 feet and live storage today is at 0.044 MAF.
The inflows and outflows of River Indus at Tarbela and Chashma, River Kabul at Nowshera and River Jhelum at Mangla have been reflected as mean flows of 24 hours, whereas the other flows have been gauged at 6.00 am.