Water distribution

Sindh regularly complains of irrigation and drinking water shortage due to what it claims faulty policies of the Irsa

In recent months, Sindh has regularly been complaining of irrigation and drinking water shortage due to what it claims faulty policies of the Indus Water River System Authority i.e. Irsa. The Chief Minister Sindh during a recent presser pleaded to “not let any province die thirsty”, insisting, “We only ask for as much [water] shortage as faced by other provinces.” Before that, the provincial irrigation minister also claimed in a statement that the province was only receiving half of its share of water needed at this time of the year. The minister attributed the major reduction in Sindh’s share to granting permission to Punjab to open its flood season canals, saying the unavailability of a proper amount of water would affect the winter crops, like rice, thus decreasing the production of these commodities.

The water scarcity would also lead to shortage of drinking water in Karachi and Thar. Karachi is supplied most of its potable water from Keenjhar Lake, fed by the Indus River, and the Thar region from Chotiari reservoir, also filled by the same river. How the impending water shortage would affect the availability of drinking water could be anybody’s guess. The water level is sharply declining in these dams.

The 1991 Water Accord stipulates that a lower riparian province should get 48 million acre feet water per annum, and against this Sindh is now receiving only 50% of its share, according to provincial officials. The cut in Sindh’s share is also leading to sea intrusion, which has devoured some 3.2 million acres of arable land in coastal districts of the province. This process could have been stopped if 10 MAF water was released into the sea, but the required quantity of water was not available. Moreover, shortage of water is turning considerable tracts of land in the province barren. This has badly affected Thatta, Badin and Sujawal districts in particular.

Before implementing its policies, Irsa should take all stakeholders into confidence to ensure consensus between provinces on this vital issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2021.

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