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Tarbela water at dead level
LAHORE—Water level at Tarbela Dam, the largest reservoir of
the country, will touch dead level between March 5-6, further
aggravating the prevalent paucity of water which has already
hit hard the agriculture sector.
 The
official irrigation experts told The Nation here on Tuesday
that water level at Indus River at Tarbela Dam decreased to as
low as 1396.93 ft on March 5 against the dead level of 1369
ft.
The experts said that water level will reach the dead level
between March 5-6. Afterward, they added, inflow and outflow
of the Indus River will remain same with the view to maintain
the dead level.
The experts were of the view that water inflow will be started
increasing again by mid May with the snow melting in the
catchment area.
The dead level of Tarbela Dam was 1,300 ft at the time of its
commissioning but due to sedimentation and silting, the level
has been increased gradually.
Tarbela received 13,400 cusec water on Tuesday as compared to
11,800 last day.
The experts said that a remarkable decrease of inflow was
recorded in Indus River after the beginning of heavy snow
falling in various upper parts of Northern Areas recently.
The officials of Indus River System Authority (IRSA)
maintained that no water release would be made from the
reservoir dead level which was 1369 feet.
It may be mentioned that Irrigation experts had predicted
touching of dead level at Tarbela Dam by end of February.
However, due to rains, the water supply increased in Indus
River during past ten days.
To a question, the experts said, Mangla Dam, having second
largest storage capacity in the country, will be depleted to
dead level in a week as only 24 ft water was available in the
reservoir.
On March 5, the water level at Mangla Dam was recorded at
1073.05 ft against the dead level of 1040.0 ft. The experts
said that three feet per day water discharge has been
maintained at the reservoir.
Experts said that water position was almost improving at
Mangla due to snow melting. Water inflow was registered only
15,600 cusec and outflow remained higher than inflow 28,000 to
meet the need of wheat and sugarcane of various areas of
Punjab.
Meanwhile, scattered rain during last ten days in Punjab and
other parts of the country supplemented water needs of farming
community. However, according to agriculture experts, water
requirements for the standing crops including wheat was not
met effectively. However, they termed overall impact of rains
on crops as positive.
The Agriculture experts said that the rain would help wheat
plants groom during this very important stage of the crop. The
experts said that about 20 per cent of standing wheat crop was
at earring stage while 65-70 per cent crop was at booting
stage. While the remaining 10-15 per cent wheat crop was in
tillering and shooting phase of development
The experts said that owing to unprecedented water shortage,
crop condition was not normal throughout the country, as the
long dry spell has affected the growth of tillers of wheat.
They said that the rain would also benefit farmers in sowing
of sugarcane crop.
According to provincial Agriculture Department, during 1st and
2nd March 1-10 mm rainfall recorded at several towns of the
province including DG Khan, RY Khan, Sadiqabad, Taunsa, Toba
Tek Singh, Okara, Chechawatni, Shujaabad, Bahawalnagar and
Faisalabad.
courtesy Daily The
Nation ,6 March 2002
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