Irsa to finalise provinces’ water share soon

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has called back-to-back meetings of its technical and advisory committee on March 25 and 26 for finalisation of water estimates and provincial shares for the coming Kharif season amid uncertainties over filling capacity of Tarbela Dam. The meetings are taking place at a crucial stage when the Tarbela and Mangla dams are at their dead level, meaning there is no water storage at all. The provinces are facing 51 per cent water shortage at rim stations. The actual shortage at canal heads is estimated to exceed 60pc. This is hampering the last watering of mainly wheat crop just ahead of its harvest, threatening to affect output. This also means the Kharif season, which begins on April 1, would take off with zero carryover water storage. As if this were not enough, construction works at tunnels 4 and 5 of Tarbela dam could not be completed in line with committed schedules. Some of these structures were closed in Dec 2022 for 33 months, but are reportedly behind schedule.