Irsa reduces water outflows from dams

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has reduced water outflows from the Tarbela and Mangla dams to facilitate the month-long de-silting programme 2014-15 beginning Saturday across the country. Punjab Irrigation engineers told Business Recorder here on Friday that the water regulatory body had curtailed discharge from Tarbela Dam to 12,000 cusecs and from Mangla Dam to 15,000 cusecs for minimum generation of hydel power from these two reservoirs.
They said the revised de-silting plan 2014-15 had been compiled from the data prepared / provided by various zones of the Department. The plan envisages de-silting of 822 channels covering 4937.096 canal miles length and excavating 1545.847 Lac Cft earthworks with expected expenditure of Rs 426.910 million.
The De-silting Plan would be implemented as a campaign in two phases as per canal closure schedule notified by the Director, Indus Water Treaty and Regulation. Irrigation Department Works on Mangla Command Canals are scheduled from December 26 to January 16, 2015 (except Upper Jhelum Canal, Lower Chenab Canal and Upper Bahwal Canal) whereas works on Terbela Command canals would be carried out from January 16, 2015 to January 31, 2015 (except Taunsa Canals).
In order to ensure satisfactory completion of the task, necessary instructions along with quality control mechanism/ checks have been conveyed to the field formation. The Department is resolute to accomplish the task in the professional manner.