LAHORE, June 20: The combined river flows dropped by 13 per cent in 24 hours — from 345,043 cusecs on Wednesday to 290,006 cusecs on Thursday.

The Irrigation and Power Department attributed the dip to a decrease in temperatures resulting in slower melting of glaciers and snow and wearing off of the recent rain effect. Total river supplies on Thursday were still around 30,000 cusecs more than total withdrawal capacity of all the provinces which is 260,000 cusecs. The Punjab can draw up to 110,000 cusecs, Sindh 125,000, Balochistan 10,000 and the NWFP 15,000 cusecs.

The biggest drop was in flow that came down to 155,700 cusecs on Thursday from 183,700 cusecs on Wednesday — a decrease of 28,000 cusecs. River Chenab was next with a drop of 12,837 cusecs — from 62,543 on Wednesday to 49,706 cusecs on Thursday. The flow in river Jhelum also dropped by 9,200 cusecs; it had an inflow of 33,200 cusecs on Thursday compared to 42,400 cusecs a day earlier. Flow in River Kabul at Nowshera went down to 51,400 cusecs from Wednesday’s 56,400 cusecs. The combined flow was still 36,026 cusecs higher than the corresponding day last year when it stood at 253,980 cusecs.

The Mangla reservoir level touched 1,178.55 feet level on Thursday, brightening the chances of complete filling this year. According to experts, the chances of Mangla filling are good if the lake is filled up to 80 per cent — 1,180.00 feet — by June 20. By the third weak of June, all snow in the catchment areas has melted. The rest of the lake is filled by the following monsoon rains. On Thursday, the lake was 1.45 feet behind the target.

According to water storage report, Tarbela lake had stored 1.583 million acre feet water by Thursday as water level stood at 1,431.44 feet level. On the corresponding day last year, the level was 1,395.08 feet. The Mangla lake contained 3.292 MAF water. Its live capacity of 4.64 MAF is reached at the optimum level of 1,202 feet.

Out of the total supply of 290,006 cusecs, 18,906 cusecs were stored and the rest, 271,100 cusecs, released for irrigation.

Jinnah Barrage received 206,000 cusecs water on Thursday and released 197,900 cusecs. Chashma had an inflow of 191,100 cusecs and a 200,000 cusecs outflow, Taunsa 197,700 and 169,900, Guddu 175,800 and 146,200, Sukkur 142,400 and 89,000 and Kotri 34,200 cusecs and 2,900 cusecs. Thursday was thus also the first day of the season when water was released below Kotri barrage.

Improved river supplies during the last few weeks have brought down the overall water shortage in the country from 44 per cent to 26 per cent. The early Kharif season — April 1 to June 10 — started with 70 per cent shortage. The Punjab, which expected to get 6.53 MAF water during the period received 8.579 MAF. Its total share foe the season, according to Para 14(b) of 1991 Water Accord, was 11.613 MAF. Last year, the shortage during the period was 45 per cent.