The Punjab Irrigation department has reopened three major canals-Upper Chenab, Upper Jhelum and Dera Ghazi Khan canals for second watering of the drought hit Rabi crops, including the strategic wheat crop. These canals were closed late December for a month long de-silting and annual repairs.
Punjab Irrigation Consultant M H Siddiqui told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the department is releasing about 12,000 cusecs water in these canals- Upper Chenab 3,000 cusecs, Upper Jhelum 3000 cusecs, and D G Khan 7000 cusecs to irrigate crops in central and southern Punjab.
Meanwhile the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has increased outflows from Tarbela and Mangla dams to meet water needs of the provinces. It is discharging 41,000 cusecs water, 20,000 cusecs from Tarbela dam on river Indus, 9700 cusecs of river Kabul. 5000 cusecs from Mangla dam on river Jhelum and 6500 cusecs from river Chenab.
The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in its report of river flows and reservoirs level stated that the combined river inflows at four rime stations is 35,700 cusecs, Indus at Tarbela 14,200 cusecs, Kabul at Nowshera 9700 cusecs, Jhelum at Mangla 5,300 cusecs and Chenab at Marala 6,500 cusecs.
It said that of the total water inflow in river Indus at Jinnah barrage, 26800 cusecs, 19,000 cusecs water is flowing into Guddu barrage in Sindh province. The Sindh irrigation is discharging 10100 cusecs water downstream towards Sukkur Barrage of which 4200 cusecs is being released downstream towards Kotri Barrage.
The report said that out of the total storage capacity of Tarbela and Mangla dams and Chashma barrage, ie 15 million acre feet (MAF). only 1.5 maf water is available in three reservoirs Trebala, Mangla and Chashama barrage for irrigation and hydel power generation for the next three months.
There is 0.986 MAF water in Tarbela dam, 0 .449 MAF in Mangla dam and 0.064 MAF Chashma barrage. The Meteorological department has already forewarned the El-Nino Conditions which developed in June, 2009, and suppressed Pakistan Monsoon rainfall by about 30 percent, are likely to continue till next summer.
WEATHER FORECAST In its weather forecast for Sunday (today) the department has forecast isolated rain with snowfall over the hills in Rawalpindi, Malakand, Hazara, Gujranwala divisions, Kashmir & adjoining hilly areas . Whereas foggy/misty conditions likely to prevail in plain areas of Punjab on Sunday.
It said a westerly wave affecting upper parts of the country is likely to remain for next 24 hours. After that continental air may prevail during next few days. In Islamabad & Punjab, isolated light rain may occur in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Sargodha divisions on 23rd January 2010 (Evening/Night).
After that cold and dry weather is expected during next few days, besides foggy conditions in plain areas of Punjab. In Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan, isolated rain with snowfall over the hills may occur during next 24 hours. After that cold and dry weather is expected during next few days.
In NWFP, isolated rain with snowfall over the hills may occur at scattered places of Peshawar, Malakand & Hazara divisions during next 24 hours. After that cold and dry weather is expected during next few days. In Sindh, dry weather is expected in most parts of the province during next few days.
In Balochistan, mainly very cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in most parts of the province during next 24. However Isolated rain with snowfall over the hills is expected in Quetta division on 23rd January 2010(Evening/Night).
POWER SITUATION The Ministry of Water and Power has stated that presently there is a shortfall of 2434 MW in the supply and demand of electricity which is being met by load shedding/power management.
In its report, the ministry said that the country's hydel, IPPs and thermal power plants are generating about 7,700 MW electricity against the demand of 1034 MW. It said the IPPs are contributing 4600 MW electricity, Hydel power houses 980 MW and thermal plants 2100 MW electricity to the national grid. The Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has stated that the power generation will improve next week when more irrigation water is released in the canals from Tarbela and Mangla dams after the month long de-silting of the canals and more hydel power units start operations.
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