Rabi crops: IRSA increases water supply by seven percent

The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has downgraded projected water shortage for Rabi crops 2013-14 from 15 percent to 7 percent during the months of February and March as water availability in the dams and the rivers has improved considerably.

Punjab Canal Regulator and Consultant, M.H.Siddiqui, told Business Recorder here on Friday that in addition to the running water in the four live rivers of the country, 4.6 million acre ft water was still available in Tarbela and Mangla dams and Chashma reservoir for growing and maturing crops including wheat, grams, lentils, oilseeds, vegetables, fodder and orchards etc in February and March.
2.434 MAF water is available in Tarbela dam on river Indus, 2.094 MAF in Mangla dam on river Jhelum and 0.079 MAF in Chashma barrage, he added. Siddiqui said Punjab Irrigation department has been running canals in central Punjab by drawing 20,000 cusecs water from the Mangla dam and 7,300 cusecs run of the river Chenab water, yet it will open canals emanating from river Indus on 5th February 2014.

He said since the repairs work of the Qadirabad Barrage on the river Chenab and Balloki headwork on the river Ravi is still going on, the irrigation canals taking off from these water regulators would be opened on 5th February to supply water to the districts of Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar to water the crops.

According to January 31 rivers flows and reservoirs level report of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), IRSA is releasing about 70,000 cusecs water in the water ways across the country against the inflow of 36,000 cusecs at the rim stations of the river Indus 14,300 cusecs, river Kabul 8600 cusecs, Jhelum 7,000 and Chenab 7,300 cusecs.

Meanwhile Meteorological department has said that 3 to 4 spells of winter rain/ snowfall are expected during the month of February 2014.The first spell is likely to occur during the first week of February, barani areas of wheat crop may receive good rain during the period.

Source: Business Recorder

Water wastage an eye-opener for pro-Indian lobby: Agriculture Forum Pakistan

August 21, 2013

Agri Forum Pakistan (AFP) Chairman Dr Ibrahim Mughal has said that the wastage of 5.9 million acres feet fresh and sweet water into sea during last four months should be taken as an eye-opener by the pro-Indian lobby.
"As per international standards price of this water is estimated at Rs 600 billion. If this water could be stopped from going in to sea it could have generated 2,000 mega watts electricity at the rate of Rs 2 per unit,' Mughal said while talking to media here on Tuesday. He said this water could have been used to irrigate over 10 million acres of land which could also have saved the devastation caused by this flood.
Dr Ibrahim Mughal said where this water could have generated electricity to end load shedding there it could have saved Rs 100 billion to the poor in their bills. They could have spent this money on their food requirements, he added. Mughal urged the government to immediately start construction on Kalabagh, Bonji, Akhori and Bhasha Dams to avoid devastation caused by floods every year, to generate cheaper electricity.

Source