Punjab reopened its closed non-perennial canals on Wednesday to use the increased water inflows in the four live rivers of the country to irrigate crops in their command areas following widespread three days rains across the province.
Punjab irrigation canal regulator M H Siddiqui told Business Recorder that water inflow in river Indus has increased from 20,000 cusecs to 43,000 cusecs, in river Kabul from 16,000 cusecs to 35,000 cusecs, in river Jhelum from 10,000 cusecs to 72,300 cusecs and in river Chenab from 7,000 cusecs to 72,800 cusecs.
He said only 28,000 cusecs water is being released downstream the Mangla dam for irrigation and hydel power generation and 44,000 cusecs is being retained in the reservoir. Similarly of the Indus inflow, 30,000 cusecs is being discharged downstream the Tarbela and 13,000 cusecs is stored in the dam.
He said the flow of river Kabul 35,000 and run of the river Chenab 72,800 cusecs water is being thrown into the canal irrigation network for watering Rabi crops including wheat, grams, mustards, oil seeds, vegetables, barleys, fodder etc. He said due to increased inflow in rivers Indus and Kabul, Chashma barrage has been refilled to its capacity.
Convenor Punjab Water Council Farooque Bajwa told this scribe that these timely rains are a great blessing of Allah Almighty for the water deficit country, the Irrigation department should not spread the rain water in the rivers and use this precious commodity judiciously till the maturity of winter crops in April. He said the authorities should not release water downstream the Trimmu, Sindhnai and Panjnad barrages for at least 7 days as the crops in their command areas do not need watering for next 10 days.
RECORD SNOWFALL IN NORTHERN AREAS Meanwhile, Met Office has said that record breaking snowfalls have been received in the Northern areas of the country during the current wet spell. Chief amount of snowfall (feet) received at different stations are: Malam Jabba=10, Kalam=06, Murree=02, Parachinar=02, Skardu=02, Drosh, Dir & Astore=01.
In addition to snowfall this system produced widespread rainfall over different parts of the country, which contributes positively towards the water resources and agriculture.
Chief amount of rainfall (mm) received at different stations are: Rawalakot=219, Saidu Sharif=212, Kakul=209, Chirat=184, Malam Jabba=183, Rawalpindi=174, Islamabad=172, Risalpur=168, Garidupatta=167, Lower Dir=149, Pattan=134, Muzaffarabad=130, Chakwal=129, Mangla=117, Kalam=112, Peshawar=115, Balakot=110, Drosh=97, Kotli=91, Dir=90, Murree=87, Joharabad=83, M.B.Din=78, Kohat=75, Jehlum=73, Parachinar=69, Chitral=65.
Met office said the prevailing weather system has already ceased in Sindh & Balochistan, upper KP, NE Punjab, Kashmir/ Gilgit-Baltistan. Cold weather conditions are predicted in different parts of the country from tomorrow. Night temperatures are likely to fall 2-4°C in Southern Balochistan, Sindh and south Punjab while 4-6°C in upper Punjab, GB and Kashmir. Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, light rain/snow is expected at a few places of Kashmir and GB.
