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ISLAMABAD: Amid worsening water crisis in Pakistan, Punjab and Sindh are in a tug of war for getting more water from the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) for irrigation. Sindh province is claiming that it is facing drought-like situation that hitting its Kharif crops, so it must be given water on emergency basis.
Punjab says that in March, it has given water from its own share to Sindh, but now due to its own high requirements, it cannot do so, officials of the Punjab told the Senate Special Committee on Water Scarcity that met here with Senator Maula Bakhsh Chandio in the chair on Tuesday.
The committee suggested that for mitigating the water scarcity issue in the country, they need to formulate an integrated strategy and develop new big water reservoirs. DG Metrological Department while briefing the committee said that environmental changes are haunting the country and the situation is getting worse and will further get worst in coming years.
Officials of Irsa told the committee that due to low water availability in Indus river system, canals are being operated on low efficiencies. It is worth mentioning that Tarbela dam has already hit its dead level of 1386 feet, while Mangla dam is at 1099.05 feet against its minimum operating level of 1050 feet. Chashma barrage is at 638.6 against the minimum operating level of 638.15 feet.
Member Punjab of Irsa said that all provinces have right on water of the system and it is distributed under a formula. In March, Punjab has twice given water from its share to Sindh and now its own demand for water is high, so it cannot give it from its water share to Sindh.
Senator Sassui Palijo from Sindh said that as the situation is leading to famine in Sindh. She said that the there is no drinking water in Sindh, but the Mangla dam is being filled. Filling of dams should be stopped to give water to Sindh.
Officials of Irsa said that in Taunsa barrage, flow of water is 3000 cusecs instead of 17500 cusecs. There is no filling of Magla dam, while water is being supplied from it. From C-J link canal water supply is 1000 cusecs and from T-P link canal it is 1500 cusecs. In next ten days, 10,000 cusecs of water will get increase in system.
Federal Flood Commissioner Ahmad Kamal said that water is distributed among provinces under a three tier formula. Total water release to the provinces is 121500 cusecs with a shortage of 35 percent. Of this, Punjab is currently getting 67500 cusecs (facing 37pc shortage), Sindh 45000 cusecs (37pc shortage), while Baluchistan is getting 5900 cusecs and KP 3100 cusecs. On Tuesday, rivers inflow was 117600 cusecs while outflow is 126300 cusecs.
Irsa member from Sindh said that the province has right of 48 million acre feet of water and should be given to it. There is no mention of the three-tier formula in the agreement. He further said that in next few days, the water scarcity in Sindh and Punjab could get worse. If the water is released now, it would take three days to reach Punjab and several more days to Sindh.
Senator Sassui Palijo said that release from these link canals should be stopped and given water to Sindh province on emergency basis, as it is facing acute shortage. The committee asked both the provinces to bring their suggestion in next meeting for sorting out the issue. The committee also asked Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to appear in next meeting.
Chandio asked Sindh government to present its suggestions to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) as to get permanent solution for water shortage. It is worth mentioning that Baluchistan has once again registered a complained with Irsa that Sindh was stealing its share of water.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/314392-punjab-sindh-gasping-for-water-as-kharif-nears
Punjab says that in March, it has given water from its own share to Sindh, but now due to its own high requirements, it cannot do so, officials of the Punjab told the Senate Special Committee on Water Scarcity that met here with Senator Maula Bakhsh Chandio in the chair on Tuesday.
The committee suggested that for mitigating the water scarcity issue in the country, they need to formulate an integrated strategy and develop new big water reservoirs. DG Metrological Department while briefing the committee said that environmental changes are haunting the country and the situation is getting worse and will further get worst in coming years.
Officials of Irsa told the committee that due to low water availability in Indus river system, canals are being operated on low efficiencies. It is worth mentioning that Tarbela dam has already hit its dead level of 1386 feet, while Mangla dam is at 1099.05 feet against its minimum operating level of 1050 feet. Chashma barrage is at 638.6 against the minimum operating level of 638.15 feet.
Member Punjab of Irsa said that all provinces have right on water of the system and it is distributed under a formula. In March, Punjab has twice given water from its share to Sindh and now its own demand for water is high, so it cannot give it from its water share to Sindh.
Senator Sassui Palijo from Sindh said that as the situation is leading to famine in Sindh. She said that the there is no drinking water in Sindh, but the Mangla dam is being filled. Filling of dams should be stopped to give water to Sindh.
Officials of Irsa said that in Taunsa barrage, flow of water is 3000 cusecs instead of 17500 cusecs. There is no filling of Magla dam, while water is being supplied from it. From C-J link canal water supply is 1000 cusecs and from T-P link canal it is 1500 cusecs. In next ten days, 10,000 cusecs of water will get increase in system.
Federal Flood Commissioner Ahmad Kamal said that water is distributed among provinces under a three tier formula. Total water release to the provinces is 121500 cusecs with a shortage of 35 percent. Of this, Punjab is currently getting 67500 cusecs (facing 37pc shortage), Sindh 45000 cusecs (37pc shortage), while Baluchistan is getting 5900 cusecs and KP 3100 cusecs. On Tuesday, rivers inflow was 117600 cusecs while outflow is 126300 cusecs.
Irsa member from Sindh said that the province has right of 48 million acre feet of water and should be given to it. There is no mention of the three-tier formula in the agreement. He further said that in next few days, the water scarcity in Sindh and Punjab could get worse. If the water is released now, it would take three days to reach Punjab and several more days to Sindh.
Senator Sassui Palijo said that release from these link canals should be stopped and given water to Sindh province on emergency basis, as it is facing acute shortage. The committee asked both the provinces to bring their suggestion in next meeting for sorting out the issue. The committee also asked Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to appear in next meeting.
Chandio asked Sindh government to present its suggestions to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) as to get permanent solution for water shortage. It is worth mentioning that Baluchistan has once again registered a complained with Irsa that Sindh was stealing its share of water.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/314392-punjab-sindh-gasping-for-water-as-kharif-nears
