Effective from October 1: Punjab and Sindh to face 20 percent water shortfall in Rabi season: Irsa

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Friday estimated 20 percent shortage in water share of Punjab and Sindh each in the Rabi season 2017-18, commencing from October 1. The decision was taken in a meeting by the representatives of Irsa; Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Federal Flood Commission, and provincial secretaries of irrigation attended the meeting.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, however, have been exempted from the impact of water as their demand and share is relatively lower than that of the other two provinces. Irsa Advisory Committee meets during the last week of Sep every year to finalise water share of provinces keeping in view water availability during the Rabi season.
The following items were placed before the committee for decision: (i) approval of anticipated water availability criteria for Rabi 2017-18; (ii) allocation of water of 0.181 MAF for Kachhi Canal, Balochistan as per Irsa; (iii) the implementation of rating tables prepared by Irsa for Patfeeeder and Kirther canals; and (iv) Chashma closure as requested by Wapda for 15 days (end of December 2017 or start of January 2018.
The total availability of water in Rabi crop season 2017 will be around 29.48 MAF to be distributed amongst provinces in accordance with water distribution formula. Punjab's share will be 15.72 MAF of water compared to 16.16 MAF in the previous Rabi season whereas Sindh will receive 11.86 MAF as compared to 12.20 MAF last year. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan will get 0.70 MAF and 1.02 MAF respectively which is same as during last Rabi season. The Advisory Committee has estimated water losses of 2.24 MAF during Rabi season.
According to statistics presented during the meeting, anticipated rim station inflows including ER component during Rabi season will be 24 MAF, whereas releases from storage will be 7.81 MAF. Availability below Kotri (involuntary- during canal closure) is expected to be 0.09 MAF. A spokesman of Irsa told media that Wapda has submitted a proposal to increase the dead level of Tarbela reservoir by 6 feet to 1386 feet and Mangla reservoir by 22 feet to 1062 feet.
The dead level of country's two key reservoirs is diminishing gradually due to silt which has resulted in reduction of their storage capacities. However, Irsa Advisory Committee rejected the proposal of Water and Power Development Authority. The data of Rim station inflows during Kharif 2017 indicates that inflows at Indus were 2 percent higher at 53.31 from anticipated 52.11 MAF, Kabul 15 percent less at 14.54 MAF from anticipated inflows of 17.23, Jhelum 8 percent less at 15.78 MAF from anticipated inflows of 17.12 MAF and Chenab one percent less at 20.67 MAF from anticipated inflows of 20.88 MAF.