The Sindh Irrigation authorities have started releasing 8,100 cusecs water downstream Kotri Barrage into the Indus Delta Region after a lapse of nine months, to meet its fresh water requirements, Flood Forecasting Centre said here on Sunday.
It said 41,000 cusecs water is flowing into the Kotri barrage on river Indus, 60 miles upstream the Arabian Sea, of which 8,100 cusecs water is being discharged downstream after filling the Kotri irrigation canals.
It may be added that water is released below the Kotri barrage for only three months in a year during the monsoon season when there is surplus water in the Indus river for releases in the coastal Indus Delta region comprising Thatta and Badin districts. Experts say that lack of fresh water flow downstream Kotri Barrage is a national issue, as the coastal delta was dying up slowly. FFC said that river Kabul at Nowshera, and river Indus at Kalabagh and Chashma are in low flood level while all other rivers are flowing normally.
It said 2,12,000 cusecs water is flowing in river Indus at Tarbela, 2,60,000 cusecs at Kalabagh, 2,77,000 cusecs at Chashma, 2,19,000 cusecs, at Taunsa, 1,84,000 cusecs at Guddu, 1,16,000 cusecs at Sukkur and 41.900 cusecs at Kotri barrage.
Weather forecast for today:
Thundershower/rain associated with strong gusty winds is expected at isolated places of Punjab, including Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zhob and Kalat divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Weather forecast for 48 hours:
Mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of the country, however thundershower/rain is likely at isolated places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper and central Punjab, Northeast Balochistan, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places of Lower, KPK, upper Punjab and Dera Ghazi khan divisions.
Weather on Sunday:
Rain/thundershower occurred at isolated places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper and central Punjab, Barkhan and Kashmir and Kashmir.
Chief Amount of Rainfall Last 24 hrs in mm:
Rainfall recorded in (MM) during past 24 hrs (upto 0800 PST):
Gujranwala=65, Lower Dir=56, Barkhan=47, Chattar-kallas=43,Tarbela=38, Shinkiari=33,Sehrkakota=31, Saidu Sharif=29, Dara-e-Tang=21, Mangla, Hattian Bala, Khanpur and Kohat=20 (each), Risalpur=17, Kakul=16, Malam Jabba=14, Balakot and Kotli=13(each), Islamabad(Zero Point =13,
Airport=04, Saidpur, Sham-sabad=02(each)& Dhamial=01)),Domel=12, Talhatta=11, Oghi=10, Garhi Dopatta & Mianwali=09(each), Nowshera & Phulra=08 (each),Tanda Dam=07,Attock & Muzaffarabad =06(each), Besham & Dir=05(each), Daggar, Murree & Zhob =04 (each), Lahore (Airport=04 & City=Trace), Palandri, Kotnaina & Rashidabad=03(each), Dratian, Ravi Syphon, Kamra, D.I.Khan & Noorpur Thal=02(aech), Peshawar (Airport=02 & City=Trace), Chakri, Bhakkar & Rawalakot=01(aech), Chilas, Astore, Bannu, D.G.Khan, Jhelum & Karachi (Airport) =Trace(each).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2012