After widespread rains in the upper regions of the country, three rivers Indus, Chenab and Kabul have reached the stage of medium or low flood running with 5,80,000 cusecs water on Tuesday giving significant boost to the agriculture and livestock sectors and improving water availability for the winter crops.
Flood Warning Centre said that river Indus is in low flood at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa and Guddu. River Kabul at Nowshera and River Chenab at Marala are in medium flood. It said 3,43,000 cusecs water is flowing in river Indus at Tarbela, 2,77,300 cusecs at Kalabagh, 3,01,800 cusecs at Chashma, 2,59,000 cusecs at Taunsa, 2,02,000 cusecs at Guddu, 1,34,000 cusecs at Sukkur and 54,200 cusecs at Kotri barrage.
River Chenab is in medium flood at Marala with a flow of 1,05,000 cusecs and river Kabul is in medium flood with a flow of 61,500 cusecs water. River Jhelum is contributing 65,5000 cusecs water to the nation's water economy. Besides fulfilling all water demands of the provinces, the Indus River System Authority is retaining large quantities of water in Tarbela and Mangla dams to fill the reservoirs as early as possible. According to 20th July river flows and reservoir level report of Water and Power Development Authority more than 7 MAF water has been stored in Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma reservoirs so far.
Water level in Tarbela dam is up by 100 ft from its dead level with a water storage of 3.227 MAF, Mangla dam is 138 ft above its dead level with 3.732 MAF and Chashma barrage 8 ft above its dead level with 0.133 MAF water. Wapda report said that Sindh irrigation department after filling all its irrigation canals to their capacity has increased flow into the Indus delta downstream the Kotri barrage to 15,500 cusecs water.
Agriculture experts said that first and the current second spell of monsoon rains have brightened the prospects of transplantation of paddy over the vast targeted areas Punjab. The rains have provided enough water in the fields to transplant paddy nursery.