HARIPUR: Water levels at Tarbela Dam have plummeted to critically low levels amid an ongoing dry spell, raising serious concerns over electricity generation and irrigation needs.
As of now, the reservoir stands at 1,450.85 feet, just 48 feet above the dead level of 1,402 feet, and nearly 100 feet below its full capacity of 1,550 feet. Despite all 17 power generation units being operational, electricity output has dropped sharply to only 1,413 megawatts, well below the dam’s maximum capacity of 4,888 megawatts.
The inflow of water is currently 177,400 cusecs, while the outflow is 151,800 cusecs, further straining the already limited water storage.
A spokesperson for the dam warned that if the current dry weather persists, the situation could worsen further. Experts from the Ministry of Energy have echoed these concerns, cautioning that without imminent rainfall, both power production and irrigation supplies will face critical disruptions.
Tarbela, a key source of hydropower and irrigation water, plays a vital role in Pakistan’s energy and agricultural sectors. The alarming drop in water levels underscores the growing vulnerability of the country’s water infrastructure to climate-induced weather variability.
Story by Yawar Hayat
