LAHORE (March 17 2010): The Indus River System Authority reduced water outflows downstream the Tarbela dam on river Indus by 10,000 cusecs on Tuesday as the country's biggest reservoir was completely emptied on Monday night and has asked the provinces to adjust their water needs accordingly.

Punjab Irrigation officials told Business Recorder that Irsa had been releasing 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs water till March 15 from Tarbela dam to meet enchanced irrigation water requirements of the provinces in the wake of 30 percent less winter rains this year due to al-Nino atmospheric/environmental phenomenon.

"As all the three main water reservoirs, Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma have reached their dead levels and only 34,000 MAF water is left in the system, the Irsa is releasing only run of the river water of Indus, Jhelum, Kabul and Chenab from March 16 for the final and fourth watering of the wheat and other strategic Rabi crops like grams, lentils, mustards, etc till their maturity in middle of next month," they added.

According to river flows and reservoirs level report of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for March 16, Irsa discharged 21,600 cusecs run of the Indus river water downstream the Tarbela dam, 13,900 cusecs water downstream Nowshera, 22,400 cusecs from Jhelam river and 9,200 cusecs water downstream Marala headworks. The report said that Sindh province is receiving 37,900 cusecs water at Guddu barrage, 30,000 cusecs at Sukkur barrage and 3490 cusecs at Kotri barrage.

The harvesting of wheat and other crops will start in about two weeks in the province. Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) sources told that due to reduced water outflows, Tarbela dam hydel power generation units are producing only 583 MW and Mangla dam hydel power house 396 MW electricity against their installed power generation capacity of 4,500 MW during the summer/rainy season.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological department has predicted that there is no likelihood of rain during the next few days and the weather would remain dry in most parts of the country. The day temperatures are also likely to remain above normal in the plain areas of the Punjab, NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan.

The maximum/highest temperature in Pakistan 42.Centigrade was recorded at Chhor (Sindh) and Turbat followed by Hyderabad (41)Nawabshah (40.5 C) Badin (39 C) Jacobabad (38 C) Mirpur Khas (39.5) Rohri, Sukkur, Moenjo-daro (38.5 C). The highest temperature in Punjab was recorded at Rahim Yar Khan 23.8 C.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010