Punjab has reduced its water withdrawals off Indus river in view of low/medium flood in the river Chenab so that Tarbela dam is filled to the maximum level before end of the current monsoon season in mid-September.
Punjab irrigation canals regulators told Business Recorder that the department has cut down its water indent from 34,000 to 20,000 cusecs as 1,34,000 cusecs water is flowing in river Chenab at Qadirabad barrage in Hafizabad district and 34,000 cusecs water in river Ravi at Head Balloki which is sufficient to meet irrigation water needs of central and south Punjab .
Officials of Flood Forecasting Centre Lahore said that after rains in the upper catchment areas of the rivers, 2,56,000 cusecs water is flowing in river Indus at Tarbela , 43,300 cusecs in river Kabul at Nowshera, 63,000 cusecs in river Jhelum at Mangla and 1,26,800 cusecs water in river Chenab at Head Marala.
They said that the Indus River System Authority is retaining 1,16,000 cusecs water in the Tarbela dam and releasing 1,40,000 cusecs downstream the reservoir in the Indus river for hydel power generation and irrigation purpose. Of the river Jhelum flows, the authorities are retaining 51,000 cusecs water in the Mangla dam and releasing only 12,000 cusecs downstream the dam for irrigation and power generation.
Significant flood forecast: Moderate flooding is likely in hill torrents of D.G Khan and Rajanpur districts and their surrounding areas during 1530PST of 23-08-2012 to 2100PST of 23-08-2012. River Chenab at Khanki is in Low Flood Level and all the other major Rivers are flowing below Low Flood Level.
Director General Meteorolo-gical department Dr Mohammad Hanif told this scribe that the ongoing wet spell that will continue for another two days, will considerably improve water flows in the rivers and the dams. He said water level in the Tarbela dam has already risen by 15ft during past 4 days. The water storage in river Mangla dam is also steadily increasing, he added.
Synoptic situation: Seasonal low lies over Balochistan and its adjoining areas with its trough extending south-east wards. Under its influence strong monsoon currents are penetrating in upper parts of the country. Monsoon current is penetrating into Kashmir and adjoining sub-mountain areas of Punjab Upto 5,000 feet.
Forecast for today: Fairly widespread thunderstorm/rain with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places is expected over Bahawalpur and Sahiwal divisions.
Weather next 48 hours: Mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, isolated rain/thundershower likely at in Kashmir, northeast Punjab and Hazara division.
Weather past 24 hours Isolated rain-thundershower occurred in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat divisions and Kashmir
Rainfall (mm) recorded at 1700 pst during last 24 hours: Sahiwal-88, Lower Dir-65, Parachinar-50, Balakot-43, Cherat-38, Barkhan-22, Malamjabba-17, Islamabad Z.P, Shorkot and Gupis Kohat -10 (each) Saidu Sharif-07, Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur A/P, Murree and Zhob-04(each), T.T.Singh and Gujranwala -03(each), Kakul-02, Islamabad A/P-01, Bannu, Multan, Skardu, D.G.Khan, Faisalabad, Jhelum, Mianwali and Kohat-trace (each).
