Punjab to have no water for non-perennial canals

It is due to grim water situation and persistent drought

LAHORE: There will be no water for all non-perennial canals in Punjab during wheat cultivation in the upcoming Rabi season due to severe paucity of river water.

About 45% water shortage is expected, which may leave Punjab with no option but to stop running non-perennial canals from mid-October, agriculture experts warn.

Normally, two watering phases are ensured through non-perennial canals in the normal Rabi season, one each at sowing and maturity stage. In mild shortages, one watering is made possible for the sowing season.

However, this year, due to the grim water situation and persistent drought, it is least likely that any non-perennial canal will be run during the Rabi season, starting from October 1.

According to the Punjab Irrigation Department, among the canal system, there are perennial and non-perennial channels in the province.

Perennial canals mostly feed the areas where the groundwater is brackish while non-perennial canals largely irrigate sweet water zones. The non-perennial channels usually run from April 15 to October 15 every year.

According to official figures, non-perennial canals feed about one-third of the total irrigated area in the province.

The vast land under the non-perennial canal command area would be solely dependent on tube wells, leading to a high cost of production. Only rains can supplement some of the water needs of these areas, a major chunk of which falls in southern Punjab.

It is emphasised by the agriculture department that one watering at sowing time should be provided to the non-perennial canal areas in the hope that subsequent rains could help maintain moisture in ensuing period. Sowing of crop at maximum area is the first step towards achieving good wheat crop, said an official. However, the irrigation department is not in favour of the proposal given unprecedented shortage of over 45% in Rabi 2018-19.

The Rabi crop requirement of Punjab stands at 18.2 million acre feet (maf) of water against availability of around 10 maf. The water requirement of non-perennial canals hovers around 2MAF. According to an estimate, about 50% of the wheat area in Punjab is irrigated through perennial canals and another 32% through non-perennial.

It may be noted that the technical committee meeting of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) is scheduled to be held on September 25 with the mandate to review the water situation and finalise its recommendation regarding availability and demand for the upcoming Rabi season. The final decision about the anticipated water shortage for Kharif and share of respective provinces will be taken in the Irsa’s advisory committee meeting likely to be held on October 1.

Usually the advisory committee’s meeting takes place by the end of September but since weekend falls on September 29 and 30, therefore the meeting is scheduled for Monday October 1, said the source. As per Water Accord 1991, water regulation body allocates water to federating units twice a year, once for Kharif season and the other for Rabi season. Rabi season starts from October 1 while Kharif starts from April 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2018.

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