LAHORE: Water level in the country’s major reservoirs – Tarbela and Mangla – has started rising due to rains in the catchment areas and the provinces’ lean demand period continuing for several days.

According to the daily water report shared by the Water and Power Development Authority, the water level at Tarbela Dam was recorded at 1,419.50 feet early on Sunday, which was 1,406.02 feet on March 17. The dam’s minimum operating level and maximum conservation level has been designed at 1,392 and 1,550 feet, respectively.

Similarly, the water level in Mangla Dam was recorded at 1,129.90 feet, which was 1,104.5 feet on March 18. The minimum operating level and maximum conservation level at Mangla is designed at 1,050 and 1,242 feet, respectively.

“There are two reasons behind the rise in water level in Tarbela and Mangla. The first is the rains and the second is the provinces’ lean demand period. More rains are expected in the northern areas in this week,” Indus River System Authority spokesman Muhammad Khalid Rana told Dawn.

“Lean demand means that the provinces, especially Sindh and Punjab, are in least demand as the wheat crop is ready to be harvested, requiring no water. But the demand in Sindh will increase from now onwards due to the sowing of cotton followed by Punjab a little while later,” he explained.

Mr Rana said at present, Sindh and Punjab are being provided 40,000 cusecs and 35,000 cusecs of water, respectively. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is getting 2,200 cusecs, while Balochistan is utilising its share through the Katchi canal. “The actual demand of the provinces will rise from May 15,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2021