ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has decided in consultation with the provinces to close the canals for annual maintenance and de-silting during Rabi season 2017-18 to be started from December 26 to January 30.
The annual canal closure programme will reduce the output of hydropower units of Tarbela and Mangla by more than 2,000 MW, resulting in increased loadshedding amid extreme winter across the country.
The official sources informed Pakistan Today that IRSA has notified the annual canal closure plan, under which canals would remain closed from 26th December 26, 2017 to January 30, 2018 for maintenance and de-silting.
They said that the Mangla command canals would be closed from December 26 till January 30 in stage wise, and Tarbela command canals would remain closed from 31-12-2017 to 30th January 2018. According to the water discharge plan, the authority will release 10,000 to 12,000 cusecs of water from Tarbela Dam and 8,000 cusecs from Mangla Dam to meet drinking water requirements, they added.
Under the canal closure programme, Punjab’s lower Jhelum, Rasul Qadirabad Link, Upper Chenab canal will remain closed from Dec 26 to Jan 12, while Qadirabad Baloki Link, Jhang Branch, central Bari Doab canals from Dec 27 to Jan 13 and Lower Bari Doab, Baloki, Sulemanki Link from Dec 29 to Jan 15.
Also, Upper Pakpattan canal, and Eastern Siddiqia canal will remain closed from Dec 30 to Jan 16, while Upper Jhelum canal from Jan 12 to Jan 29 and Lower Chenab canal (except Jhang branch), Upper Bahwal canal from Jan 13 to Jan 30. Similarly, Jhang Branch canal to close from 27-12-2017 to 13-01-2018, while Upper Bahawal will remain close from 13th January 2018 to January 30, 2018.
Likewise, Tarbela command canals will remain closed during Rabi season 2017/18. As per programme, Thal and Lower Bahawal canals will be closed from 13th January till 30th January 2018, while Trimmu canal and Trimmu Sidhnai will remain closed from Jan 10 to Jan 27, while SMB Link canal and Sidhnai canal from Jan 11 to Jan 28, Lower Pakpattan canal from Jan 12 to Jan 29, and Lower Bahawal from Jan 13 to Jan 30.
Thal canal will be closed from Jan 13 to Jan 30 and the Punjnad canal to be closed from Jan 5 to Jan 22 and Taunsa canals from Dec 31 to Jan 17. Sindh’s Kotri barrage will remain closed from Dec 26 to Jan 11 and Sukkur barrage from Jan 6 to Jan 24.
During this period, canals in Balochistan will also remain closed, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chashma Right Bank canal will stay closed from Jan 1 to Jan 31.
The sources said that the irrigation Department of Punjab government had communicated to the water regulator to reduce outflows from Mangla Dam beginning Dec 26. And, therefore, discharges from Mangla and Tarbela will be reduced, they added.
Available copy of Punjab Irrigation Department further confirmed the schedule of closure of canals during Rabi season 2017/18 to be started in the province from 26th December to January 30, 2018. All Superintendent Engineers and Executive Engineers (Open Canals), Punjab has been advised to notify the closure dates in the gazette for information of the public.
Likewise, Irrigation Department of Sindh has communicated the programme of closure of Sukkur Bararge canals for the year 2017-18 with the Chief Engineer, asking him to issue notification in this regard. The Sukkur Bararge canals will remain close from 6th January 2018 to 20th January 2018, said a copy of letter issued by Sindh Irrigation Department. More, an Executive Engineer of Kotri Barrage has issued notification for annual closure of Kotri Bararge Head Works for the year 2017-18.
The Gates of Barrage will be raised gradually from 12:00 id night between 25th and 26th December 2017 and will be lowered again from 12:00 mid-night between 10th & 11th January 2018. For this period there will be no flow of water in any off-taking canal i-e Akram Wah (lined channel), Old Fuleli (Pinyari), New Fuleli, K.B. Feeder,” said the notification.
Kotri Bararge’s notification also informed the zamindars/cultivators and all concerned that Kotri Bararge canals will remain closed with effect from 25th December 2017 to 10th January 2018 (both days inclusive) for the purpose of normal inspection, maintenance and necessary repairs of the masonry structure and emergent work on canals.
