Rabi crops, particularly wheat would be hit badly in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh districts due to non-availability of irrigation water from December 11, 2006 to February 10, 2007.
Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has approved the closure of Taunsa barrage for two months for rehabilitation of the structure to fulfil a demand of the Punjab government. Southern Punjab would face water shortage during this period. While the water releasing points for Sindh and Balochistan would be Guddu barrage instead of Chashma barrage during the closure period.
The decision was taken at a meeting, chaired by Irsa Chairman Mohammad Khan Memon on Tuesday. It was also decided that in case of any unexpected shortfall at Guddu barrage, the Punjab Irrigation and Power Department would ensure releases as per indent of Sindh and Balochistan provinces even by adjusting its canals. It will be tried that about 1.5maf of water will be retained in Tarbela reservoir for the Rabi season ie, from February 11 to March 31, 2007.
The main agenda of the meeting was finalisation of the re-routing plan devised by the I&P Department Punjab to provide water to Sindh and Balochistan as per their share according to their Irsa allocations during the closure period from December 11, 2006 to February 10, 2007.