Balochistan, Sindh water dispute deepens

Biggest province says it is receiving 46% less share

QUETTA:

The Balochistan government is considering legal action against the Sindh government over what it describes as the unfair distribution of canal water after repeated contacts with the Sindh chief minister and other authorities failed to ensure the province received its approved share.

According to officials, the shortage of canal water in Balochistan has worsened due to continued reductions in water supplied by Sindh despite an improvement in river flows.

Pat Feeder Canal Superintending Engineer Mudassar Khoso said although the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) had reported better water availability, the Sindh Irrigation Department was still providing Balochistan with 46% less water than its allocated share.

He said Balochistan was currently receiving only 0.365 million acre-feet (MAF) of water against its allocated share of 0.678 MAF, leaving a shortfall of 0.310 MAF.

Khoso said at RD-109, Balochistan required 6,700 cusecs of water but was receiving only 4,096 cusecs. Similarly, at RD-102, the province was receiving only 1,050 cusecs against a demand of 2,400 cusecs.

He said he had earlier written to the relevant authorities seeking a review of water flows allocated to Balochistan but received a response that was contrary to official procedures and administrative ethics.

Khoso added that he now plans to visit Guddu Barrage on Monday (July 6) to review the situation after postponing an earlier visit scheduled for July 1 due to official commitments.

Provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani said the continued reduction in Balochistan's canal water share by Sindh was making the situation increasingly serious.

He said the issue had been taken up with the federal minister for water resources, the Sindh irrigation minister, the Sindh irrigation secretary and the IRSA chairman through meetings and written communications, urging them to stop deductions from Balochistan's allocated share.

Umrani said Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had also contacted Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who assured him that no deductions would be made.

However, he alleged that despite the assurance, officials of the Sindh Irrigation Department continued to reduce water supplies to Balochistan.

The provincial minister said the IRSA chairman had also written to the Sindh government, stating that Punjab was not responsible for the reduction and that Sindh was making the deductions, which amounted to an injustice against Balochistan.

Umrani said that despite approaching all available forums, the province had not received relief from what it termed unfair treatment and was now seriously considering initiating legal proceedings against the Sindh government.

He said he would meet Chief Minister Bugti later in the day to brief him on the gravity of the situation and seek his approval for legal action. Umrani vowed that Balochistan would not allow any further violation of its water rights.