Khanpur Dam storage drops to critical level
A view of Khanpur Dam, which is a major source of drinking and irrigation water (right). PHOTOS: MUHAMMAD SADAQAT/FILE
The water level at Khanpur Dam has dropped to just 9.67 feet above dead level, raising alarms about a looming crisis in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The dam now resembles a pond, with water levels falling from 1982 feet to 1919 feetjust 9 feet above the dead level of 1910 feet.
According to an official, water supply for irrigation to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already been suspended.
Presently, Islamabad's CDA and Rawalpindi are receiving only 50 cusecs of water, which is also at risk of being halted.
The dam's current inflow is 25 cusecs, while the outflow stands at 103 cusecs.
Experts warn that if rains do not arrive soon, the decreasing water levels could lead to a severe drinking water crisis, impact aquatic life, and devastate agriculture in the surrounding areas.
Orchards and canals in the Khanpur region have already dried up.
In the event of prolonged drought, millions of residents in the twin cities could lose access to drinking water, and tourism in the Khanpur area may take a significant hit.
During the three days of Eid, over 200,000 tourists visited the dam, with more than 50,000 vehicles arriving at the site, generating substantial revenue through parking fees. However, if the situation worsens, water-related activities and local employment tied to tourism could collapse.