Tarbela water levels drop dangerously low

Water levels in the Tarbela Dam have dropped to dangerously low levels, posing a serious challenge to electricity generation due to a lack of rainfall.

A continuous decline in water inflow is being recorded at the dam owing to the ongoing dry spell. Currently, the water level at Tarbela stands at 1450.85 feet, which is just 48 feet above the dead level of 1402 feet.

According to a spokesperson, if the current situation persists, a further decline in the water level is feared. Although all power generation units at the dam are operational, electricity production remains limited. The inflow of water into the dam is 177,400 cusecs, while the outflow is at 151,800 cusecs. Despite all 17 power generation units being functional, they are producing only 1,413 megawatts of electricity at present, far below their total generation capacity of 4,888 megawatts. Water storage is critically low.

Tarbela Dam's full storage capacity is 1,550 feet, but the current level is almost 100 feet below that mark.

Water experts and officials from the Ministry of Energy have warned that if weather conditions do not improve soon and rainfall does not begin, water levels may drop even further. This could not only affect irrigation but also result in a significant reduction in power generation.