ISLAMABAD: Tarbela Dam on Wednesday attained its maximum conservation level at 1,550 feet, but Mangla Dam is unlikely to be filled to its capacity this year.

Tarbela has now its maximum live storage capacity of 5.882 million acre feet (MAF) which means the entire river flow of about 125,000 cusecs would be let flow downstream as run of the river.

This would mean there would be enough water storage for upcoming Rabi season in October for Sindh’s command area, but Mangla dam would be filled to its peak conservation level when it reaches 1,242 feet.

Mangla dam’s water level on Wednesday stood at 1,198 feet, about 44 feet below its full capacity. This would mean the Jhelum-Chenab reach would have to bear water shortage during Rabi season.

The current live storage at Mangla dam stood at 4.211MAF — more than 2MAF short of its peak. The country’s total live storage capacity including that of Chashma barrage stood at 10.137MAF on Wednesday.

River flows in Indus at Tarbela stood at 124,000 cusecs on Wednesday morning against outflows of 90,900 cusecs. Kabul river flows at Nowshera were recorded at 24,300 cusecs while flows in Jhelum at Mangla stood at 18,300 cusecs against outflows of 38000 cusecs.

Flows in Chenab at Marala stood at 44,100 cusecs and outflows at 8,800 cusecs.

Inflows at Jinnah Barrage were reported at 137,300 cusecs and 152,100 cusecs at Chashma. Inflows at Taunsa stood at 158,100 cusecs against outflows of 138,400 cusecs while inflows at Panjnad stood at 10,700 cusecs against 119,200 cusecs at Guddu. Inflows at Sukkur Barrage were reported at 75,500 cusecs against outflows of 28,200 cusecs while Kotri inflows stood at 26,900 cusecs against outflows of just 400 cusecs.

Tarbela dam’s minimum operating level is 1,392 feet and that of Mangla 1,050 feet.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2021