Tarbela Dam Fills to Maximum Capacity,Spillway Opening Expected
Pakistan’s Tarbela Dam has officially reached 100 percent storage capacity, while Mangla Dam has reached 74 percent, according to a report by 24NewsHD. The rapid rise in water inflows has pushed Tarbela’s level to its maximum conservation height of 1,550 feet, increasing the chances that spillways will soon be opened to maintain dam safety.
Officials from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) explained that if inflows continue, water release through spillways will become unavoidable. This step is necessary to protect the structure of the dam and regulate water levels.
Authorities have already issued flood warnings for downstream regions, as the release of excess water could raise river levels significantly. Emergency response teams are on high alert and arrangements have been made to tackle any untoward situation once the spillways are opened.
Located on the Indus River in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Tarbela Dam has been a cornerstone of Pakistan’s water and power infrastructure since its completion in 1976. Recognized as the world’s largest earth-filled dam, Tarbela provides irrigation water for millions of acres of farmland, flood control during peak inflows, and clean hydroelectric power for the national grid.
The dam’s reservoir, also known as Tarbela Lake, spreads across nearly 250 square kilometers and can store up to 11.9 billion cubic meters of water. Currently, Tarbela produces around 4,888 megawatts of electricity. However, with the ongoing fifth extension project, financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), its generation capacity is expected to reach 6,418 megawatts. This expansion will place Tarbela among the top 12 hydroelectric power projects worldwide.
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