With the memory of controversial Kalabagh Dam still haunting people, the Sindh barrage proposed by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) continues to elicit apprehensions and objections of the province' irrigation officials. WAPDA officials held a meeting with the Sindh irrigation department and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) officials at Kotri Barrage on Thursday, where the former tried to obtain the latter's consent.
The delegation consisted of three members from the Centre, who discussed the project with chief engineer of Kotri Barrage, Haji Khan Jamali, chief engineer Shafqat Wadho and SIDA Managing Director Preetam Das. The irrigation officials reportedly rejected the facts and figures presented by WAPDA regarding water availability, allocation and measures to stop sea intrusion in Sindh's coastal districts.
"The proposed barrage finds no mention in the 1991 water accord. From where will water allocation for the barrage and its canals be made," an irrigation official asked. "Kotri Barrage is facing a shortage of 16 million acre feet of water every two decades," he said citing WAPDA studies conducted since 1976.
The official said the federal authority is presenting exaggerated figures of water flow at the barrage, which is the last engineering structure on the Indus River before it meets the Arabian Sea.
Other officials said the construction of Dasu, Bhasha and Naigaj dams, among other canal projects like K-IV for Karachi and Kachi Canal phase-II, will further reduce the flows towards Kotri Barrage in the years to come.
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The barrage is proposed for construction 180-kilometre downstream of Kotri in Thatta district and 45-km upstream of the river's outfall into the sea. The initial estimated cost of construction was assessed at Rs125 billion.
WAPDA claims that the reservoir with two million acre feet (MAF) storage will address problems like sea intrusion, land erosion in the delta, climate change, loss of wetland and mangroves besides providing freshwater to many areas.
Sindh's irrigation officers also argue that 400,000 acres of cultivable land will be destroyed because of the barrage's construction and storage. "WAPDA has still not informed us from whose share water will be allocated to the Sindh barrage," asked another official.
The irrigation officials reiterated the stated stance of the Sindh government that they will give their consent for the project only after their objections are completely addressed.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2021.
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