Country facing severe water crises: IRSA
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—The water crises in the country has been intensified in the country and Indus River System Authority (IRSA) in this regard has said that water level in Tarbela dam is on dead level while at Mangla Dam, water level is just two feet more than the dead level.
The spokesperson of PASCO, however said that the no electricity crises would emerge due to low water production. According to sources, a emergent meeting of IRSA members was held on Monday, Chairman Bashir Ahmed Dahir in a chair. The meeting was informed that the water level of Tarbela Dam now stands at 1,369 which is its dead level while Mangla Dam has 1,042 feet water against the dead level of 1,040 feet and expected to touch the dead level today(Tuesday).
Irsa sources further told that the supply of water to the provinces would be stopped when the dams touch the dead level and would get water only from rivers and the electricity production would be reduced. Chairman Irsa Bashir Ahmed Dahir in this regard has said that although the dams are touching the dead level but it is not unusual, adding that we are monitoring the situation carefully. The needs of water to the provinces are being fulfilled while after improvement in the temperature, the water flow would also be improved.
He underlined that our utmost priority is to provide the water for irrigation purposes and to release water for electricity production is not our priority, he added. The Chairman Irsa said that the dams are touching the dead level due to shortfall of rains, adding that in 2007, the dams were not touched the dead level. The Chairman Irsa during the meeting has said that there are no differences among the provinces regarding water distribution and all the reservations of the provinces in this regard have been removed.
Irsa sources told that at present Tarbela Dam is receiving 20,300 cusecs water while 37,000 cusecs water is being provided to the provinces. The water inflows in Tarbela stands at 21,786 cusecs against outflows of 26,000 cusecs.
Meanwhile, spokesperson of PASCO, Tahir Cheema has said that the country would face 300 to 500 megawatt reduction in electricity supply, however, PASCO aiming to remove that deficit has arranged alternative arrangements. He expressed hope that the country would not face any electricity crises in the coming days.