M RAFIQUE GORAYA

LAHORE: The Indus River System Authority has called a meeting of its advisory body comprising senior representatives of the four provinces on Friday to determine and apportion the provincial water share for the sowing and maturing of strategic Rabi crops from 1st October to 31st March.

The water regulatory authority’s technical committee met on Monday to estimate availability of water during next six months for sowing, growing and maturing the Rabi crops including the nation’s staple food wheat, grams, oil-seeds, vegetables, fodder for livestock, and fruit orchards.

Punjab Irrigation Engineers told Business Recorder that the country is facing a grim water situation as there would be 20 to 22 percent water shortage for the 2017-18 winter crops. “Instead of 13 MAF water, there would be only 8 MAF water available in the two reservoirs, Tarbela on the mighty Indus and Mangla on the River Jhelum after maturing the Kharif crops 2017.

They said there had been very low water flows in the four live rivers of the country in the month of September. Therefore, the IRSA has to draw extra water from the dams to mature the Kharif crops including rice, sugarcane and cotton that are backbone of the nation’s agriculture economy

According to the Monday’s position of the river inflows and outflows at Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma Indus at Tarbela: Inflows 61,500 cusecs and outflows 95,000 cusecs, Kabul at Nowshera: Inflows 6,700 cusecs and outflows 6,700 cusecs, Jhelum at Mangla: Inflows 9,300 cusecs and outflows 55,000 cusecs, Chenab at Marala: Inflows 24,800 cusecs and outflows 9,900 cusecs.

Barrages: Jinnah: Inflows 115,700 cusecs and outflows 108,200 cusecs, Chashma: Inflows 116,800 cusecs and outflows 105,000 cusecs, Taunsa: Inflows 106,200 cusecs and outflows 89,000 cusecs, Panjnad: Inflows 12,000 cusecs and Outflows Nil Guddu: Inflows 98900 cusecs and outflows 72,400 cusecs, Sukkur: Inflows 87,800 cusecs and outflows 33,900 cusecs.