Sindh irrigation authority seeks removal of IRSA member over water shortfall

ISLAMABAD: A new dispute over inter-provincial water sharing surfaced on Thursday after the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) called for the removal of an Indus River System Authority (IRSA) member from Punjab, accusing him of taking unilateral decisions that have left Sindh facing a severe water shortage during the rice sowing season.

SIDA Chairman Qabool Muhammad Khatian said IRSA, under the influence of Punjab member Amjad Saeed, had failed to ensure that Sindh received its share under the 1991 Water Accord. He said the resulting shortage was affecting rice cultivation and other seasonal crops across the province. Water availability remained well below allocations, with shortages recorded at 43pc at Guddu Barrage, 44pc at Sukkur Barrage and 62pc at Kotri Barrage.

Speaking about the situation, Khatian said: "Despite the ongoing rice cultivation season, IRSA is depriving Sindh of its rightful share of water, which is a grave injustice."

He warned that the shortage could cause an estimated $4.5 billion loss in export earnings by lowering farm output, especially rice, which he described as one of Sindh’s major cash crops.

Khatian argued that the scarcity could not be explained by a lack of water availability, saying reservoirs currently held around four million acre-feet of stored water, which he said was higher than seasonal storage levels. He alleged that instead of releasing water to Sindh, IRSA was holding back water in the dams.

He also accused the authority of routing water through the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals toward the Jhelum-Chenab region even though, he said, the flood season — when such canals are usually operated — had not yet started. Khatian further alleged that majority decisions were being imposed on Sindh while Balochistan’s seat on IRSA was vacant and Sindh’s representative was unavailable due to medical treatment.

According to Khatian, Sindh’s share was being taken away and even rainfall received by the province in April was being counted as part of its allocation. He said Kotri Barrage, which is facing the highest shortage, supplies irrigation water to a major rice-growing belt between June 1 and 15, and that farmers in its command area had already been affected. He added that Kotri Barrage feeds four major canals, including the KB Feeder Canal, which also supplies water to Karachi.

Khatian demanded the removal of the IRSA chairman and others he held responsible for the current water distribution policy, and urged the federal government to appoint what he called impartial and competent officers to implement the 1991 Water Accord in its true spirit.

Minister warns of agricultural crisis

Sindh Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar also expressed concern over the reduction in water supplies, saying the situation had created growing anxiety among farmers and pointed to a looming agricultural crisis. He said Sindh was currently facing a 48pc water shortage, which had badly affected the province’s agriculture sector.

Mahar urged the federal government and IRSA to immediately release Sindh’s due share under the accord. He said the situation was especially worrying in Khairpur, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Umerkot, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Mirpurkhas and Kashmore, where farmers were facing acute shortages.

No immediate response from IRSA to the allegations was available.