SIALKOT (By Abid Mehdi) The water level on Sunday soured up enough in River Chenab, enabling the local boatmen to bring their boats in this river near Head Marala-Sialkot picnic spot here. It was the warmly welcomed news for the local people and even for the visitors that the boats were back in River Chenab now after last year’s flood season.
The local people started reaching Head Marala near Sialkot to see the waves in the water in romantic River Chenab. The people were much delighted to see the boats there in River Chenab waters besides boating there as well.
According to the local officials of the Sialkot Irrigation Department, the snow has started melting due to increase in the temperature from the snow-covered alps and mountains in neighbouring Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The officials added that the ice glaciers’ water was reaching here in River Chenab at Head Marala near Sialkot from India, due to which the water level was rising here now.
They added that the River Chenab originates from Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and enters into Sialkot-Pakistan from near village Pir Panjaal.
Officials of the Irrigation Department added the water level today soured up to 25482 cusecs in River Chenab, 2415 cusecs in River Tavi and 822 cusecs in River Jammu at Head Marala Sialkot.
They said that it was a very pleasant and delighted sign that the water level is rising here and bringing the boats back in River Chena at Head Marala, as the boats ahve also brought smiles on the faces of the visitors a swell.
The officials added that the India was bound to release as many as 55000 cusecs water in River Chenab during these days under the Indus Basin Water Treaty, but India was not releasing this water in Chenab.
The officials revealed that about 5500 cusecs water was being released in Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) and 4000 cusecs water was being released in Marala-Ravi-Link (M.R.Link) Canal Sialkot, enabling all the farmers and growers to irrigate the seasonal crops in the fields along the banks of these main canals.
Almost dried up bed of River Chenab was presenting a gloomy look here.
The youngsters, most of them the students of the schools and colleges, today reached and were much delighted to see water there in River Chenab near Head Marala.
A youth Muhammad Amjad said “the waves of water in romantic Chenab were giving much attractive look”.
A university student Mariyam Sabir said “she was much happy to see water in River Chenab here at Head Marala-Sialkot, which was a famous picnic spot also”.
A visiting newly-wed couple Adnan and Zainab said “definitely they were happy after enjoying boating today in River Chenab at Head Marala as well”.
A visitor Maleeha Khan said “there was no doubt to say that the River Chenab had ever been a romantic river after having the great romantic story of the Sohni Mahinwal. She said that the River Chenab also carry several more romantic stories buried in its sands and waters for the last several decades as well”.
Another tourist Arif Mehmood Sheikh said “the junction of three River Chenab, Jammu and Tavi also presented an eye-catching view when the waters of these three rivers merge in each other at Head Marala-Sialkot as well”.
Some other visitors including Bushra Bibi, Fouzia Bibi, Naveed Akhtar, Abdul Majeed Butt, Muhammad Salman Sabir and Muhammad Bilal said “ we love River Chenab if it has water or not. They said that River Chenab had ever been lovable for all of us”.
Some other visitors Khadeeja Bibi, Kanwal, Arfa Bibi, Faisal, Zeeshan and Muhammad Aslam urged the Punjab government to ensure the early upgradation of Head Marala picnic spot besides establishing tourists’ resorts along the banks of the River Chenab at Head Marala under the supervision of Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) with sole aim to develop tourism in Head Marala-Sialkot region as well.
