Tarbela Dam reaches its capacity

Development good omen for agricultural, power sectors

ISLAMABAD:

Tarbela Dam has attained its maximum conservation level at 1,550 feet above mean sea level, resulting in around 5.827 million acre-feet (MAF) of water in the reservoir -- a good omen for agricultural and hydel power generation sectors in the country in the days to come.

Tarbela Dam is viewed as an iconic project for the contributions it has been making towards the development of Pakistan since 1974.

The dam releases stored water for farming, mitigating floods and providing low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid.

Tarbela reservoir has a live water storage capacity of 5.826 MAF. Besides, it is the biggest electricity generation facility in Pakistan with an installed capacity of 4,888 megawatts (MW), which will further increase to 6,418 MW after the completion of Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project.

As per hydrological data, the river inflows, outflows and reservoir level at Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma along with the water situation at the barrages is as follows:

Kabul at Nowshera has an inflow of 69,400 cusecs and outflow of 69,400 cusecs; Jhelum at Mangla has an inflow of 26,700 cusecs and outflow of 10,000 cusecs, while Chenab at Marala has an inflow of 76,100 cusecs and outflow of 54,300 cusecs.

As for the barrages, Jinnah recorded an inflow of 276,000 cusecs and outflow of 271,500 cusecs, Chashma recorded an inflow of 386,000 cusecs and outflow of 386,000 cusecs, Taunsa recorded an inflow of 437,700 cusecs and outflow of 437,700 cusecs, Guddu recorded an inflow of 361,800 cusecs and outflow of 361,800 cusecs, Sukkur recorded an inflow of 351,100 cusecs and outflow of 351,100 cusecs, Kotri recorded an inflow of 219,300 cusecs and outflow of 219,300 cusecs, Trimmu recorded an inflow of 120,600 cusecs and outflow of 112,900 cusecs and Panjnad recorded an inflow of 95,900 cusecs and outflow of 90,400 cusecs.

Regarding the level and storage of reservoirs, the data showed that Tarbela, whose minimum operating level is 1,398 feet, had the present level of 1,550.00 feet. Its maximum conservation level is 1,550 feet, and live storage currently is 5.827 MAF. Mangla, whose minimum operating level is 1,050 feet, has a present level of 1,175.40 feet. Its maximum conservation level is 1,242 feet, and the live storage currently is 2.938 MAF. Chashma, whose minimum operating level is 638.15 feet, holds a present level of 642.00 feet, while its maximum conservation level is 649 feet. The live storage currently is 0.038 MAF.

The inflows and outflows of Indus at Tarbela, Jinnah and Chashma rivers; Kabul River at Nowshera; and Jhelum River at Mangla have recorded mean flows of 24 hours, whereas the other flows have been gauged at 6 am.