SUKKUR, June 4: Water flow at Sukkur Barrage has improved remarkably over the last three days, following melting of snow on Skardu heights, stabilizing the overall situation. The Chief Engineer of Sukkur Barrage, Kewal Ram, told APP that the discharge at upstream on Tuesday was recorded at 56,000 cusecs. The flow at 25,000 cusecs was also noted to meet the needs of Kotri Barrage, he added.

Melting of snow, he said, had raised the water level at Tarbela to 156,800 cusecs.

Mr Ram pointed out that the flow at Cheshma Barrage was recorded at 153,000 cusecs upstream and 150,000 cusecs downstream.

He said that the situation was better than in the corresponding month last year and would have a positive effect on crops.

He hoped the continued rise in water flow at Sukkur Barrage would touch 90,000 cusecs by June 14 and at Gudu Barrage 110,000 cusecs by June 12.

The official attributed the improvement to natural causes and said that he was sure that water would be available in a sufficient quantity for the Kharif crop.

He, however, said that the shortfall recorded at Sukkur Barrage was 35 percent, at Gudu Barrage 47 per cent and at Kotri Barrage 60 per cent as per the comparative study under the 1991 accord of apportionment of river waters.

Mr Ram said that all the right and left bank canals were being run on rotation basis and the irrigation authorities had devised a foolproof system to ensure availability of water at the tail-ends.—APP