Chenab water flow fluctuations very serious: IRSA

ISLAMABAD: Following unilateral suspension of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 1960, manipulation by India in water flows has touched a new high, as Pakistan first received water deluge of 110,000 cusecs in Chenab at Marala on May 29 at 10-11am and then braved a massive dip of 105,200 cusecs to 4,800 cusecs on May 30 at 1am.

Pakistan Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW) is on alert and is monitoring the real-time data about water flows in Chenab River. The water flows fluctuations are away from normal discourse, a senior official of the Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) told The News.

He said, “Now water flows in Chenab have returned to normal, as these have increased to 27,000 cusecs from 4,800. These days, Chenab usually receives normal flows in the range of 27,000-30,000 cusecs”.

The official said under paragraph 15 of the Treaty, when a deluge comes in Chenab, India can hold 50 percent water in pondages of its hydropower projects, and if flood situation worsens, India can release water of 130,000 cusecs. However, India has increased water flows up to 110,l00 cusecs. “PCIW is examining the erratic water flows and is in contact with top authorities of the country”, he said.

However, Punjab Irrigation Department said Central Punjab is being exposed to abnormal variations in water flows, which are adversely impacting the rice zone. “The erratic situation in Chenab flows has prompted Punjab government to request Indus IRSA to increase water flows from Mangla reservoir up to 25,000 from 10,000 cusecs which will impact Mangla filling.”

When contacted, IRSA spokesman Khalid Idrees Rana said PCIW gets the data on hourly basis, but Authority receives the mean (average) data of water flows. He said Chenab received the mean water flows of 69,100 cusecs on May 29 and 78,000 cusecs on May 30, which drastically declined to 22,700 cusecs on May 31.

Rana said fluctuations in water flows in Chenab are very serious. IRSA has increased the water flows from Mangla reservoir from 10,000 to 25,000 cusecs to cater to water needs of the rice zone in Central Punjab, he said. If this situation continues, water filling in Mangla Dam will be adversely impacted, he said, adding IRSA was storing water in Mangla Dam as per the hydrology in Jhelum River. Mangla Dam must be filled up to 80 percent till June 30 this month.

“The manipulation in water flows in Chenab by India has not only endangered the rice zone in Central Punjab but will also impact the Mangla filling,” he noted.