Punjab is gradually reopening its irrigation canals which were closed in late December for the month long annual de-silting of the water channels in the province, Canal Regulator M H Siddiqui told Business Recorder here on Tuesday. He said the provincial irrigation department had reopened all canals emanating from Marala Headworks on river Chenab and Mangla Dam on river Jhelum.
However, Lower Chenab Canal (LCC) off-taking from Khanki Headworks would remain closed up to 6th February for technical reason. Siddiqui said that all canals in the central and southern Punjab would be opened on 10th February when Punjab would be drawing 20,000 cusecs water from the Indus Zone and 25,000 cusecs from the Mangla Zone to provide vital second watering to the Rabi crops including wheat, grams, oil seeds, vegetables, fodder etc.
Presently, Punjab is drawing 20,000 cusecs water from the Mangla dam, 6,700 cusecs run of the river Chenab flow and 7,000 cusecs water from the Chashma and Taunsa barrages on the river Indus, he added. According to 31st January rivers flows and reservoirs level report of Wapda, Indus River System Authority is releasing 65,000 cusecs water into the sprawling irrigation network across the country to irrigate the winter crops.
It is discharging 30,000 cusecs water from the Tarbela Dam, 8,500 cusecs run of the river Kabul water, 20,000 cusecs water downstream the Mangla Dam and 6,700 cusecs run of the river Chenab water. According to the report, Sindh province is getting 36,900 cusecs water at Guddu barrage 22, 200 cusecs at Sukkur Barrage and 13,835 cusecs water at the Kotri barrage.
The report said 2.341 MAF water is available in the Tarbela dam, 1.729 MAF in the Mangla dam and 0.138 MAF water in the Chashma Barrage for release up to 31st March 2012. Punjab irrigation engineers told this scribe that on average the country is facing 9 per cent water shortage for the 2011-12 winter crops, which is manageable.
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