All non-perennial canals closed in Punjab: harvesting of Kharif crops begins

As harvesting of the Kharif crops, cotton, rice, sugarcane has started, all non-perennial (six monthly) irrigation canals have been closed in Punjab but the perennial canals, which are linked to dams and barrages to provide water throughout the year for drinking and irrigation purposes will continue to flow.
M.H. Siddiqui, Consultant Irrigation Punjab told Business Recorder here on Saturday that combined water flow at rim stations of the four live rivers has dropped to 64,000 cusecs (Indus 36,800 cusecs, Kabul 9200 cusecs, Jhelum 9,200 cusecs and Chenab 9300 cusecs).
However the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has agreed to release 15,000 cusecs water from Tarbela dam and 6,000 cusecs from Mangla dam in river Indus and Jhelum respectively to supplement irrigation water in perennial canals of the four provinces, he added.
According to Punjab Irrigation department sources, some non-perennial channels would be reopened early next month for a fortnight to provide maximum water in cotton zone of south Punjab (Tarbela command) for wheat sowing. Similarly, water would be discharged into the non-perennial canals in the rice zone of the province for a month for wheat sowing on maximum acreage.
According to a report published by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) report on river flow and reservoirs level, about 6.5 million Acre Feet (MAF) water has been left in two main reservoirs (Tarbela 3.62 MAF and Mangla 2.92 MAF) for sowing and maturing the winter rabbi crops including the wheat crop.
Meanwhile, IRSA has notified the provinces that there would be 30 to 35 percent shortage of water for the Rabbi crops (from 16th October to 15th April), therefore, farmers should plan and inform IRSA about their water needs. It may be mentioned that Punjab produces nearly 80 percent of the major cash crops including the country's staple food wheat crop. Punjab Irrigation System controls an area of 21 million acres.
For operational efficiency, the system has been divided into 6 irrigation zones (Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur and D.G Khan zones). Multan Zone comprises 5 Barrages, 5042 miles long irrigation channels to deliver 27022 Cs discharge for Kharif and 14012 Cs for Rabi through 11611 outlets to irrigate an area of 4.98 million acres. In line with the vision of the government of Punjab, Irrigation and Power Department is implementing a holistic irrigation system rehabilitation programme valued at Rs 12 billion.