Kharif season: Punjab to give 50 percent water share to Sindh: Irsa

Punjab has voluntarily agreed to give 50 percent of its water share to Sindh during current Kharif season. This was decided in Indus River System Authority's (IRSA) advisory committee meeting here on Friday. Talking to reporters, Irsa Chairman Rao Irshad said that after Punjab's decision there would be no water shortage for cotton in Sindh, which during the Kharif season, requires more water for cotton and rice, as compared to Punjab.
He said that during the season Punjab would receive only 18,000 cusecs of water out of its share of 33,000 cusecs, and the rest of the water would go to Sindh. He said that during the meeting, Punjab decided to give 50 percent of its water share to Sindh, adding that Punjab would be compensated later and Punjab's Irsa representative voluntarily offered its share. The participants held consultations with regard to methodology on supply of water and decided that Sindh water requirements would be met during Kharif season as 50 percent water share of Punjab would be given to Sindh.
Irshad said that Punjab with all open mindedness agreed to give its 50 percent share of water to Sindh, while 45,000 cusecs water would be provided to Sindh and 33000 cusecs to be utilised by Punjab. He added that water would reach dead level in Tarbela dam on Saturday while water inflow in other dams was far less due to low temperature in upcountry. However, rains are expected within two days and water situation would improve.
He said that water would be supplied to Sindh from Mangla dam, after Tarbella dam reaches dead level. Wheat harvesting has started in Punjab and Sindh while cotton sowing has started in Sindh where sowing starts early. But if the cold system persisted in hilly areas longer than expected Sindh cotton sowing would face acute shortage of water.
Currently, the Indus River is flowing at 20,800 cusecs, against 26,700 cusecs on the same day of last year. Tarbela dam is only 2.9 feet above the dead level of 1,378 feet and has only 0.047 million acre-feet of water. The Mangla dam, which is in a better position as compared to Tarbela, has also experienced drop in flows from the Jhelum. According to recent report, its inflow was 32,000 cusecs but outflow increased to 45,000 cusecs. The Kabul River was flowing at 17,200 cusecs on Friday, against 20,300 cusecs on the same date of last year, and the Chenab River at 14,200 cusecs against 8,600 cusecs.