ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) closed the water supply from Mangla Dam on Monday with immediate effect as Mangla powerhouse indent is reduced to ‘nil’ due to water scarcity.
A spokesman of IRSA Khalid Rana while talking to Pakistan Today said that this is the second time in the history of Mangla powerhouse that it has been closed due to the water scarcity. He said water supply to the canals of Punjab has been closed as only two canals, namely as Chashma and Thal canals, are receiving only 7,000 cusecs water from Tarbela dam instead of Mangla dam to meet the demands.
He also said that Mangla Dam has the capacity to store 7.4 million acre-feet (MAF) while only 3.4 MAF water is currently available in the reservoir of Mangla and there is a shortage of 0.7 MAF of water in the dam. Last year, there was 4.1 MAF water in the reservoir on the same day, he added.
“Water supply to the canals of Punjab from Mangla Dam has been closed on the request submitted by Punjab Irrigation Department as a strategy to cope with the present scenario,” Khalid Rana said.
Sharing details of water supply to the provinces, the spokesman of IRSA said that provinces are receiving water supply as per their demands. He said as of today Sindh is receiving 40,000 MAF, Balochistan is receiving 5,000 MAF, while Punjab is receiving 7,000 MAF and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is getting 3,000 MAF to meet water demands.
“We will review water receiving and supply situation to the provinces in the first week of November when there will be a need of water for wheat sowing,” said IRSA spokesman.
He also said that IRSA has repeatedly requested the provinces to devise a strategy to meet the issue of water scarcity in the rivers. He added that provinces are formulating their strategies and Punjab has devised the strategy to meet its demands of water for Rabi crops while rest of the provinces have been requested time and again to formulate a strategy to meet water demands of Rabi crop season.
Sources in IRSA said that four main rivers had received 20 per cent fewer inflows than anticipated from October 1, the start of Rabi season, till October 20. They said that the total average anticipation in Indus, Kabul, Jhelum and Chenab rivers was 3.675 MAF but inflows of only 2.943 MAF were actually received.
They also said that the average anticipated inflow of River Indus was 1.923 MAF however the inflow was 9 per cent less at 1.747 MAF. Also, it was anticipated that the average inflows in Kabul River will be 0.481 MAF but the actual inflows remained 54 per cent less at 0.22 MAF. Similarly, the anticipated inflow in Jhelum was 0.526 MAF however the inflow was 36 per cent less at 0.339 MAF. Regarding Chenab, it was anticipated that the average inflows will be 0.745 MAF but it received 15 per cent less at 0.637 MAF. Moreover, the average outflow was estimated at 3.994 MAF and the actual was 3.985 MAF, said sources.
The sources further said that during the same time, Tarbela’s level is 3.7 feet higher putting it at 1483.70 feet against the anticipated 1480 feet. However, the level of Mangla is more than 10 feet below at 1182.35 feet against the average anticipation of 1192.50 feet.
Earlier, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Muzammil Hussain while briefing Senate Forum for Policy Research (SFPR) on water scarcity in Pakistan had called for formulation of a national water policy and effective measures to deal with future crisis posed by water scarcity in the country. Briefing SFPR on water scarcity in Pakistan, the chairman presented grave scenario due to lack of reservoirs, power water management, impacts of global warming and declining of water table across the country, especially in urban areas.
He pointed out that Pakistan is amongst the 15 most water-scarce countries with the fourth highest use of water but lowest storage percentage.
Referring to the lost storage capacity of three major reservoirs, he said that Tarbela live storage capacity has declined 36 per cent, Mangla live storage decreased 10 per cent while Chashma’s live storage capacity declined by 60 per cent, showing an overall decline of 25 per cent of all the three reservoirs.
About the annual water resources in the country, he said that rains contribute 25 to 35 per cent while snow and glaciers contribute 65 to 75 per cent surface flows in water reserves of the country. However, he said that due to 0.6-degree centigrade increase in temperature, the level of glaciers is lowering.
At present, he said that the capacity of water storage is only for 30 days. He added that 94 per cent of surface and groundwater is used for agriculture in Pakistan while worldwide average is 70 per cent.
Out of the total 145 MAF surface water, he said 29 MAF water is flowing to the sea, while other losses include 40 MAF irrigation conveyance losses, 10 MAF river system losses and 61 MAF losses in farm gate.
Muzammil Hussain also pointed out that tube wells increased 11 folds in 50 years while the water extraction has created an alarming situation, especially in Quetta. He said that about 50 MAF groundwater is being pumped annually while water table is lowering at a fast rate and it would not be sustainable. He added that groundwater extraction should be regulated and controlled, otherwise it is not sustainable.
