Water crisis looms large as Tarbela dam hits dead level

ISLAMABAD: Dwindling rainfall and snow melt are taking their toll on the country’s depleting water resources as Tarbela dam has reached its dead level of 1, 386 for the first time in its history. 

According to details, water level at Indus River at Tarbela dam has hit 1, 386 feet due to which Punjab and Sindh are likely to receive less than their fair share of water to meet irrigation requirements.

Inflow of River Indus at Tarbela is around 101, 000 cubic feet per second (cusec) and outflow is 95, 0000 cusecs.

July and August are variably the months of peak inflows in the dam owing to the monsoon season and snow melt. But, low rainfalls and diminishing snow melt as a result of global climate change have put strains on the country’s water supplies.

Melting glaciers and snow in Western Himalayas usually increases inflow in Tarbela, but this time around, temperature didn’t rise to 30 degrees Celsius and above in Gilgit-Baltistan and Skardu areas, resulting in low water level in Tarbela dam.

Besides, low rainfalls added to the water shortage in Tarbela.

Lately, keeping in view the strains on the country’s water resources, the Supreme Court ordered immediate construction of Bhasha dam and Mohmand dam.

The apex court had ordered the federal government, Wapda and the executive authority to take effective measures in light of unanimous decisions of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to develop the 4,500MW Bhasha dam and 700MW Mohmand dam.