Hydel power augmentation: Irsa releases water from Tarbela dam on Indus

Indus River System Authority has increased water releases from Tarbela dam on river Indus to augment hydel power generation for meeting growing electricity needs of the country. A spokesman of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) told Business Recorder here on Monday that hydel power generation has increased from 1982 MW to 2344 MW after discharge of 5000 cusecs more water from Tarbela dam.
He said PEPCO added 800 MW additional electricity to the national grid to meet the demand of 12,641 MW on Monday though there was still a shortfall of 2401 MW which was met by five hours daily load shedding in the cities and rural areas. He said hydel power stations at Tarbela, Ghazi Barotha, Mangla and Chashma generated 2344 MW, thermal 2141 MW. Independent Power Producers 5,693 MW and Rental Power plants 62 MW.
He said power situation will improve after January 26 when irrigation canals would be reopened after a month long closure for desilting and repairing purposes across the country. Meanwhile, the 17th January rivers flows and reservoirs level report of Water and Power Development Authority said that Sindh Irrigation department has stopped downstream water outflow from Kotri barrage into the Indus Delta after about five months.
It said the department is retaining about 14,480 cusecs water in the Kotri barrage and its canals for drinking and irrigation purposes as the province is facing shortage of clean drinking water. Presently, about 46,000 cusecs water is flowing at the rim stations of the four live rivers of the country, Indus, 16,200 cusecs, Kabul 15,400, Jhelum at Mangla 6,300 cusecs and Chenab 8800 cusecs. WAPDA is releasing 51,000 cusecs water downstream the reservoirs and run of the river water for power generation and irrigation purpopses.