Wapda accused of releasing excess water from dams

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has accused Wapda of releasing water over and above the indents which the regulator says was a clear violation of regulation messages, it is learnt.
Official papers scribe shows that the Wapda has been violating the regulation since October 11, when it released 26 cusecs excess water from Mangla dam. Irsa had asked it to release 5 cusecs from Mangla but the officials set aside the instructions and released 31 cusecs water. However, on the same day water from Tarbela dam was released in accordance with the message.
On October 12, Wapda released 3.6 cusecs excess water from Tarbela to 53.3 cusecs against the indent of 50 cusecs, while 0.8 cusecs excess water was released from Mangla in violation of regulation parameters. Irsa had asked for 5 cusecs, but Wapda released 5.8 cusecs.
On October 13, Wapda released 6.4 cusecs excess water to 56.4 cusecs against indents of 50 cusecs while on October 14, the utility released 5 cusecs excess water from Tarbela dam.
According to the papers, Irsa sent total indents of 195 cusecs water from October 11 to 14 from Tarbela, but Wapda released 210.2 cusecs, showing release of 15.2 cusecs excess water.
While Irsa communicated indents of 20 cusecs from Mangla, Wapda released 46.8 cusecs, indicating 26.8 cusecs excess water.
When contacted for comments, an Irsa official said that the issue had been raised by the regulator at a recent inter-provincial meeting presided over by Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi.
The official said that NPCC Chief Engineer had also raised some issues of minimum supplies about Tarbela, Ghazi Brotha and Mangla, for which it had been decided that Wapda would arrange a briefing not only on the points raised but also the process of peaking measures adopted at the sites.
Asked if Balochistan and NWFP raised the issue of shortages in the meeting of Irsa's Advisory Committee, the official said the representatives of both provinces had strongly objected on passing of shortages to them as their share was not being fully utilised by them due to lack of infrastructure, adding that their unutilised share was constantly being used by other provinces.
"It is unfair to pass shortages only to them under any circumstances," the official added.