Disagreement between provinces deepens over water issue

According to details, Punjab’s position was acknowledged in the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In the meeting, Irsa also expressed satisfaction over the water distribution formula as the meeting allowed to open the Taunsa-Panjnad link canal, while the PPP opposed the opening of the canal and took a stand that due to lack of water, cotton and rice cultivation is in danger and water inflow at Kotri Barrage in Sindh should be 50 per cent.

On the issue, Punjab Provincial Minister Mohsin Leghari said that he wants a solution to the water issue with Sindh and advised: “neutral umpires for equitable distribution of water.”

PTI leader Alia Hamza accused the Sindh government of stealing water and claimed that water shortage is between Sukkur and Kotri as Faryal Talpur has land in the area for which Rohri canal is being used to irrigate the lands of Asif Ali Zardari's sister.

While Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that he wanted to put the water case before the Sindh Assembly members.

From 2002 when he was in opposition till now whenever there was a water issue, the Sindh Assembly members, the government and the opposition came together.

Chief Minister Sindh said that this issue could not be seen as becoming Sindhi or Punjabi.

The Sindh-Punjab agreement was signed in 1945, under the agreement, Punjab had 48% and Sindh 46% water.

Murad Ali Shah said that there was never a dispute over water issues before or after the partition.

On the other hand, Special Assistant Firdous Ashiq has said in a statement that the federation of Pakistan cannot afford a fight over water, the water issue should be resolved immediately as  Punjab has a constitutional right to use its share of water.

Punjab has always acted as the big brother of Sindh while sacrificing on multiple fronts. “In Sindh, water is stolen through collusion.”

Dr Awan said that the water passing through Punjab is 2,600 square miles. A political party in Sindh is doing politics to survive in the name of water.

While a statement issued by IRSA said that water shortfall has increased to 32% while the water share of provinces has been cut.

Irsa further reduced water for Punjab and Sindh while Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were exempted from the shortfall.

An important meeting of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was held in Islamabad on the issue of water in which it was decided to further slash the water share.

Water supply to Punjab and Sindh has been reduced by 32%. Earlier, the water supply to both provinces was reduced by 23%.

From today, 83,000 cusecs of water will be provided to Punjab and 74,000 cusecs to Sindh.

According to the water reservoir statistics released by IRSA, in 24 hours, the water storage has decreased by 60,000-acre-feet and the total water storage has come down to 672,000-acre-feet.

Yesterday, there were 732,000 cusecs of water in the reservoir.

In 24 hours, the water level in Tarbela has decreased by 5,000 acre-feet, as a result of which it has come down from 71,000 to 66,000 acre-feet. Mangla water storage decreased by 25,000 cusecs while Chashma water storage decreased by 30,000-acre-feet.

According to details, Punjab's water supply has been cut and its share was reduced by 7,000 cusecs, the water share of Sindh was reduced by 10,000 cusecs.

According to IRSA, the temperature in the northern parts of the Indus River has risen to 26 degrees. The flow of water in the rivers is likely to increase in the next 72 hours.

The share of provinces will be increased if the flow situation improves.