For first time this year, the lifeline of the nation''s economy and social stability, mighty Indus is in much-needed low flood at Guddu barrage with upstream flow of 2,00,000 cusecs and downstream 1,66,000 cusecs, Flood Warning Centre (FWC), Lahore, said on Sunday.
Sindh''s largest water project, Gudu Barrage, provides irrigation water for growing cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, corn (maize), millet, and oilseeds crops, fodder and vegetables in the province. It controls irrigation supplies to 2.9 million acres (12,000 square km) of agricultural lands in Jacobabad, Larkana and Sukkur districts of Sindh and the Naseerabad district of Balochistan.
Agronomists and environmentalists say that low and medium floods in River Indus are essential during monsoon season for sustenance of forests, mangroves, fisheries, livestock and many endangered species living a strip of land three miles wide on either side of the river.
Rive r Indus was in low flood at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma and Taunsa with an inflow of about 3,00,000 cusecs water. River Kabul was also in medium flood at Nowshera.
The water inflow in Sukkur barrage was 1,42,240 cusecs, in Kotri barrage 63,600 cusecs. Sindh Irrigation Department is releasing 29,400 cusecs downstream Kotri barrage into the Indus delta to replenish fresh water resources.
The FWC also reported sudden rise of 20,000 cusecs water in River Jhelum at Mangla on Sunday due to rains in the upper catchment areas of the river in Indian Occupied Kashmir. The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) is releasing all the run-of-the-river 54,000 cusecs water downstream to produce maximum electricity from the 1100 MW capacity ten hydel generation units installed at Mangla.
Talking to Business Recorder, Punjab Irrigation officials described the current water inflow in the fourth healthy river of the country, Chenab, as satisfactory where 93,500 cusecs was downpouring into Marala headworks near Sialkot from Jammu side on Sunday evening. The command area of this river includes eastern, central and southern Punjab and its water distribution network includes Khanki, Qadirabad, Trimmu and Panjnad headworks from where water is released into the irrigation canals.
NEW SPELL OF RAINS:
Meanwhile the Meteorological Department reported that Friday''s monsoon trough along the foothills of Himalayas had slightly shifted southward. Seasonal low over Balochistan, with its trough extending to northward, had accentuated due to westerly wave and was affecting the upper parts of the country. Sufficient south-west monsoon currents are also reaching the upper parts.
In this scenario, weather conditions are as follows:
Kashmir & Northern Areas: Many parts of Kashmir and Northern Areas are expected to receive monsoon rains while isolated heavy falls are likely during next 3 days in Kashmir.
Islamabad & Punjab: Many parts of Punjab, especially upper parts including Lahore and Islamabad, are expected to receive one or two spells of good monsoon rains during next 3 days. NWFP: Scattered thundershowers are expected in the province during next 3 days.
Sindh: Mainly dry weather is expected in most parts of the province. However light rain may occur along the Sindh coast, including Karachi. And isolated thunderstorm/rain may be possible in Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas divisions during next 24 to 48 hours.
Balochistan: Hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of Balochistan during next few days. Rainfall recorded (in mm) during the past 24 hours (from Sunday evening): Shinkiari=306, Balakot=140, Domel=90, Islamabad (Shamsabad=85, Airport=82, Dhamial=20, Golra=19, Saidpur=16, Bokra=6, Zero Point=4), Muzaffarabad=80, Kakul=65, Jassar=63, Oghi=53, Talhatta & Daggar=48 (each), Mangla=43, Phulra=38, Kund=37, Lower Dir=35, Saidu=28, Lahore (Airport=23, City=14), Sehrkakota=21, Dratian=20, Sara-e-Alamgir & Jhelum=19 (each), Garhi Dupatta=16, Rashidabad=12, Risalpur=10, Kamra, Ravi Syphon, Kotli and Murree=08 (each), Sialkot (City=06, Airport=05), Pattan=06, Attock=05, Kalat, Marala (D/S) and Rawalakot=03 (each), Sharaqpur and Nowshera=02 (each), Karachi (Airport) and Gujranwala Cantt=01 (each).