Following hot and dry weather in the upper regions of the country, there has been an increase of 64,000 cusecs in the running water of four live rivers of the country during last couple of days which has enabled the Indus River System Authority to supplement the outflows from the dams for augmenting hydel power generation and irrigating crops across the country.
According to 20th May rivers flows and reservoirs level report of Wapda, water flow in the mighty Indus has increased to 61.100 cusecs from 51,000 cusecs, in the river Kabul from 69,000 cusecs to 86,600 cusecs, in the river Jhelum from 43,300 to 53,000 cusecs and in the river Chenab from 18,800 cusecs to 40,200 cusecs. The Irsa is discharging 2,18,900 cusecs water for the hydel power generation and sowing/growing the strategic Kharif crops cotton, rice, sugarcane , vegetables, fodder and fruit orchards. It is retaining about 22,000 cusecs water in the virtually emptied Tarbela and Mangla dams on the rivers Indus and Jhelum respectively. It has stored about 1 MAF water in the reservoirs so far.
The report said that 1,11,000 cusecs is inflowing at Jinnah barrage on river Indus, 1,02,700 cusecs at Chashma barrage, 79,300 cusecs at Taunsa barrage, 49,600 cusecs at Guddu barrage, 34,700. Meanwhile, the Meteorolo-gical Department has forecast mainly hot and dry weather today (Tuesday) with chances of dust raising winds in plain areas is expected over most parts of the country. However, dust thunderstorm/ rain with strong winds is likely to occur at isolated places of Malakand, Hazara divisions, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir.
