Mangla Dam water level rises 86 feet above dead level
ES Web Desk:
Islamabad: The water level in Mangla Dam has risen to 1136.30 feet — 86 feet above the dead level of 1050 feet — and continues to increase due to improved inflows, according to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Officials said the rise in water level is a positive development for both agriculture and hydropower generation, as the country faces ongoing challenges linked to water scarcity and energy shortfalls.
WAPDA officials noted that the maximum water storage capacity of Mangla Dam is 1242 feet. As of Tuesday, the usable water storage has reached 1.213 million acre feet (MAF), significantly higher than levels recorded in previous weeks when the dam had nearly touched its dead level amid lack of rainfall.
The inflow of water into the dam was recorded at 44,300 cusecs while the outflow stood at 32,000 cusecs. Officials say the upward trend in inflows over the past few days has been consistent, aided by rainfall and upstream contributions.
“Improved water availability at Mangla is crucial for upcoming Kharif crop requirements and to support hydropower generation,” a WAPDA spokesperson said. “We hope this trend continues in the coming weeks.”
Earlier this season, water levels at Mangla had dipped alarmingly close to the dead level, prompting concerns over irrigation supply and power generation, particularly in Punjab and parts of northern Pakistan.
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