• Tarbela Dam has almost no storage.
• Mangla -dam has only 0.088 maf.
• IRSA has expected water shortage of 30-35%.

Islamabad: The Punjab government has said that the situation of water button has worsened due to the growing Indus stem water losses and downstream Kotri water releases.

Punjab Irrigation Department’s March 21 Letter to Indus River System Authority (IRSA) identified that surprisingly large losses in the Indus tribe and increased downstream streams by Kotri made the situation worse, The news reported.

According to the irrigation department, “has this resulted in deficiency that has exceeded the water deficit expected by the water regulator.”

To supply water to the Thal and Panjnad channels, the Punjab government has called on the IRSA to open the Taunsa Punjnad (TP) link on Indus.

The irrigation department said that Punjab is not currently receiving water releases from the TP link, Muzaffargarh or Dera Ghazi Khan channels.

The department for regulating the director regulation claimed that the water shortage was greater than that determined by IRSA due to actual water loss in the Indus tribe and downstream Kotri water streams from March 21.

According to the letter, the actual water loss in the Indus tribe has increased by 33% to 1.60 million acre feet (MAF) from 1.20 MAF predicted losses.

The downstream Kotri release in the ongoing Rabi season was prepared by IRSA at 0.065 MAF. But actual releases amounted to 0.47%and showed an increase in water releases by 623%.

Had the aforementioned indus loss and surplus downstream Kotri streams (0.805 MAF) been avoided, the resulting water shortage would have matched or fallen below IRSA’s expected levels, the letter said.

Therefore, Punjab delivery of channel water to Thal and Punjnad channels through TP -Link, in accordance with the indented water resource management, says the letter. The Punjab art irrigation department asked Irsa to take immediate and decisive action to limit increased losses in the Indus strain and downstream streams by Kotri.

The letter also mentioned Irsa had declared a 16% water shortage for the Rabi 2024-25 season, awarding the 16,680 MAF out of a total of 19,846 MAF for Punjab.

A comprehensive review of river losses in the Indus tribe, the current inflow situation at the major rivers and reservoirs reveal different trends than expected on the award.

Per. March 21, influx of Kabul and Indus rivers is markedly above expectation, while the shortage and Marala inflow are essentially projected levels. Kabul and Indus flood current are 12% and 6% above expectation respectively. Mangla -Dam and Chenab River flow are 36% and 15% respectively.

This difference emphasizes the need for cautious water management and redistribution strategies to optimize available resources and mitigate the impact of lack of Punjab’s agricultural sector.

Tarbela Dam has almost no storage, while the Mangla Dam has only 0.088 maf, which only makes up 1% of its capacity. The deviation between projected influx and actual reservoir levels pose a serious problem with regard to water availability.

IRSA recently expected a total water shortage of 30% to 35%. Punjab has used 20% less water than the assigned proportion, while Sindh has drawn 17% less than its right.