WAPDA to Sindh: get water for 747MW plant

Irrigation minister says power authority has asked govt to ensure adequate supply in Indus River.

KARACHI: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has asked the Sindh government to ensure adequate water supply in the Indus River for a new 747-megawatt power plant to be built near Guddu.

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo told the press at a briefing on Tuesday after presiding over a meeting of the Indus River Commission at Sindh Secretariat. The meeting was convened in view of the request put up by Wapda, he said.

The Indus River Commission comprises chief engineers and other senior officials of irrigation department and its consultants.

“We have formed a committee to review Wapda’s demand for water at its power plant to cool down turbines in order to generate electricity from gas,” Dharejo said. “The embankments will need to be cut to supply water [through a channel] to the power plant from Indus River and then to be discharged back in the river.”

The contract for the gas-fired power plant has been awarded to a Chinese firm.

The minister said that not only Wapda, but the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has also requested the Sindh Irrigation Department to seek approval to cross a pipeline through a river bank in Dadu district. “We have told the SSGC to wait for the approval of River Indus Commission as it will look into all aspects before giving permission to the gas company,” he added.

Water theft

Dharejo also expressed reluctance to initiate action against the Punjab government over water scarcity.

“Punjab being an upper riparian [area] is involved in water theft as it gets extra water from Sindh’s share,” he said. “Despite our repeated complaints, no action has been taken so far [against the province].”

“We are powerless in some matters and can do nothing but protest,” the irrigation minister conceded, adding that the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) will soon take the decision about the share of water to be provided to Islamabad.

All provincial governments have been asked to allocate some share of their water for Islamabad. “We will accept whatever is the IRSA’s decision,” said Dharejo. However, he added that as Karachi is the country’s economic hub, the other three provincial governments should also allocate a share of their water resources for the megacity.

The minister said that the irrigation department has decided to increase the capacity of the Sukkur and Guddu barrages. The department has started consultations with different stakeholders, including water experts.

In Sindh, 70 per cent irrigation depends on Sukkur Barrage while the rest is met by the Guddu and Kotri barrages. “We want to enhance [Sukkur Barrage’s] capacity and strengthen it to fulfil the water needs of the next 50 years,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2012.