Sindh, Balochistan face water shortages as Punjab exceeds share

LARKANA: Water shortages in Sindh and Balochistan have intensified as Punjab continues to draw more than its allocated share, reducing supplies to downstream areas and raising concerns over agriculture and drinking water availability.

Data from the Sukkur Barrage Control Room recorded total upstream inflow at the barrage at 50,620 cusecs on Wednesday, while total withdrawals stood at 32,120 cusecs. According to irrigation department sources and representatives of growers and millers, Sindh’s seven canals have a combined allocation of 53,200 cusecs. With actual supply at 32,120 cusecs, the province is facing a shortfall of 21,080 cusecs, or 39.6 per cent.

The same data showed that upstream barrages and canal systems in Punjab were drawing 53,394 cusecs against an allocation of 44,000 cusecs, an excess of 9,394 cusecs, or 21.35 per cent. Officials and stakeholders said this over-withdrawal was cutting into water reaching lower riparian areas.

Canal-wise shortages

The breakdown for Sindh’s canal system reflected widespread deficits. On the right bank of Sukkur Barrage, the North West Canal was receiving 2,100 cusecs against an allocation of 4,260 cusecs, a shortage of 50.7 per cent. Rice Canal was getting 5,300 cusecs against 8,700 cusecs, showing a 39.1 per cent shortfall. Dadu Canal was the worst affected, receiving 860 cusecs against an allocation of 5,997 cusecs, a deficit of 85.7 per cent.

On the left bank and at Kotri Barrage, Nara Canal was supplied 8,820 cusecs against 13,037 cusecs, a 32.3 per cent shortage. Khairpur Feeder East received 1,440 cusecs against 2,150 cusecs, a 33 per cent shortfall. Rohri Canal got 10,530 cusecs against an allocation of 15,541 cusecs, a deficit of 32.2 per cent. Khairpur Feeder West received 1,160 cusecs against 3,525 cusecs, reflecting a 67.1 per cent shortage. Kotri Barrage was receiving 11,905 cusecs against its allocation of 26,900 cusecs, leaving a 55.74 per cent gap.

Impact on Balochistan and official response

Under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, Balochistan is entitled to 2,200 cusecs through the North West Canal. Since total supply in that canal has fallen to 2,100 cusecs, the province is receiving less than its due share. Before the 1991 accord, Balochistan’s share had been 451 cusecs. In line with the Irsa accord, Sindh now passes the revised 2,200 cusecs onward to Balochistan. These flows are monitored at the Garang Cross Regulator at RD-102 of the Khirthar/North Western Canal near the Sindh-Balochistan border, the main inter-provincial measurement and control point.

According to well-placed sources, irrigation officials formally conveyed the severity of the deficit on Wednesday to the chief engineer of the Barrage Management Unit. The communication, which was also sent to the Sindh irrigation secretary, secretary technical irrigation, and the director of regulation, said the 85.7 per cent shortage in Dadu Canal and the 50.7 per cent shortfall in the North West Canal were badly affecting Larkana, Shikarpur and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts as well as downstream areas of Balochistan. It called for immediate measures to ensure equitable distribution.

Officials warned that the current shortage posed a serious risk to seasonal crops, especially rice. Khair Muhammed Shaikh, president of the Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Larkana division was one of the main rice-producing areas of the province.

“Larkana District alone produces around 242,000 metric tons of rice annually. The division contributes approximately Rs90 billion per year in foreign exchange from rice production alone. Furthermore, out of 650 rice mills in Sindh, nearly 500 are located in the Larkana region, underscoring its central role in agro-processing and trade,” they said.