ISLAMABAD: On Monday, the Tarbela dam touched its maximum storage level of 1,550-feet, although the overall storage in the country’s reservoir was still 30 percent less than last year.
Tarbela Dam had touched the dead level exactly forty-two days ago and it has a storage capacity of 6.047 million acre-feet (MAF), reports Dawn.
Due to the low level of water storage in Mangla dam, a 30 percent shortfall is being witnessed currently compared to last year.
Manga dam is Pakistan’s largest reservoir in terms of storage capacity.
Pakistan’s main water reservoirs have gained 65.60 percent of the combined live storage of 13.681 MAF, of which 34.40 percent capacity requires to be filled.
Also, the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) on Monday stated total storage in the country’s three main reservoirs, Mangla, Tarbela and Chashma barrage were recorded at 8.975 MAF against 12.87 MAF on the same day in 2017.
Total storage capacity stands around 13.861 MAF. However, an official shared it was doubtful these reservoirs would be able to reach full storage capacity due to the water level in Mangla dam being 71 feet lower than its maximum conservation level of 1,242 feet.
He added enough river flows weren’t expected to fill the dam to full capacity.
Overall inflows at rim stations stood at 374,200 cusecs on Monday. Also, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was releasing around 311,200 cusecs, which indicated around 63,000 cusec water is being conserved in reservoirs currently.
According to Water and Power Development Authority, river Indus was flowing at 224,800 cusecs at Tarbela compared to an outflow of 181,000 cusecs.
Kabul river at Nowshera reported the flow of 45,800 cusecs, whereas Jhelum flows at Mangla were recorded at a mere 29,300 cusec and only 10,000 cusecs were being released downstream.
And water flows at Marala were recorded at 74,300 cusecs against outflows of 42,600 cusecs.
Presently, Tarbela stood at its 1550 feet maximum conservation level and can operate at a minimum dead level of 1,386 feet.
Mangla’s present storage was recorded at 1170.5 feet against its minimum operating level of 1,050 feet and its maximum conservation level is 1,242 feet. Currently, its live storage has been recorded at 2.701 MAF.
Also, Chashma barrage’s minimum operating level is 638.15 feet and its existing conservation level stood at 648 feet compared to a live storage capacity of 0.227 MAF.
