Indus River System Authority (Irsa), has increased the water share of Sindh to more than 60,000 cusecs, as sowing of Kharif crops is in full swing in the province. According to Wapda report on Monday, 60,000 cusecs water is flowing into Guddu Barrage which is being discharged downstream in the river towards the Sukkur Barrage without putting any quantity of water into the irrigation canals.
The report said that Sukkur Barrage is receiving 45,100 cusecs water of which about 30,000 cusecs is being run into the vast irrigation network. The Sindh irrigation department is releasing 15,100 cusecs water downstream the Sukkur Barrage in the river to augment water supplies at Kotri Barrage which was earlier receiving 5,510 cusecs water for drinking and irrigation purposes.
The report further says 227,000 cusecs water is flowing in the four live rivers of the country at their rime stations, Indus at Tarbela 79,500 cusecs, Kabul at Nowshera 46,600 cusecs, Jhelum at Mangla 66,900 cusecs and river Chenab at Marala 34,100 cusecs.
Of these flows, Irsa is releasing 185,000 cusecs water in the canal irrigation network across the country. According to the Punjab irrigation department sources, no province has so far lodged any complaint against shortage of water with Irsa. Meanwhile, weather remained hot and dry in the country on Monday. According to Met Office, thunderstorm/rain is expected over Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi and Bannu divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, whereas hot and dry weather is likely over rest of the country today (Tuesday).
South Punjab and upper Sindh remained in the grip of scorching heat on Monday as mercury jumped to 47.5 centigrade at Mohenjo Daro and Larkana, 46 C at Jacobabad, Nawabshah, Padidan, Sukkur, 45.2 C at Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalnagar, Multan 42.8 C, Bahawalpur and Bhakkar 43.0 C, Khanpur 44.1 C, Sibbi was the hottest place in Balochistan with the temperature of 45.0 C. However, temperature was very moderate and pleasant in the northern areas of Pakistan.