MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan has accused Sindh of stealing its share of water from Rabi season but Indus Water System Authority (Irsa) galvanized into action only after the crisis deepened, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

Irsa had received complaints from Sindh and Balochistan about discrepancies in water discharges and their measurement at designated inter-provincial water distribution sites, sources added.

The sources said Chairman Irsa Muhammad Naseem Bazai, who is also Member Balochistan along with his colleagues inspected Tarbela and Mangla water distribution and measurement sites and found no inaccuracy but water released from the reservoirs is not reaching its recipients fairly.

The sources said, Irsa Chairman dispatched an independent fact-finding team comprising KPK Member, Raqib Khan and Secretary Irsa, Khalid Idrees Rana visited Garang regulator at provincial border and measured flows from the Kirthar canal at 2,105 cusecs as opposed to Balochistan stipulated share of 2.400 cusecs for that point.

The team is to submit its report to the Authority which will recommend a future line of action to deal with the situation.

An official told Business Recorder that Irsa was told that inflows from Tarbela and Mangla have declined substantially due to which neither Sindh is getting its due share nor is it releasing Balochistan’s due share.

The official argued that a substantial water released from reservoirs did not reach its destination and this issue was swept under the carpet for two weeks. However, when the crisis deepened Sindh and Balochistan approached the federal government and sought a rectification.

In March, at a meeting of Irsa’s Technical Committee, Sindh and Balochistan accused each other during the meeting with the latter alleging that Sindh had stolen its water during the Rabbi season. Irsa chairman assured Balochistan province that an inquiry was under way and the charge of water theft would be addressed. He vowed that Balochistan would be provided its entire share in Kharif season.

Another official confirmed that Sindh is not releasing due share of water to Balochistan but the quantity of missing water is yet to be calculated.

The Balochistan government maintains that the province is getting 300 cusecs less water than its approved share. The province is also being deprived of 1500 cusecs of water at the Pat Feeder canal.

The Balochistan government further accused Sindh of releasing 30,000 cusecs unauthorized flows downstream from the Kotri barrage but not giving Balochistan its due share.

KPK is also pressing the federal government to amend the Irsa Act 1992 so that the province can get its lost share. Sindh and Punjab have opposed the proposal but Balochistan has extended support to the KPK government, arguing that all provinces facing injudicious distribution of water resources maybe compensated. 

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act was promulgated in 1992. The object of the Act was to establish a water regulatory authority for regulating and monitoring the distribution of water resources of the Indus River in accordance with the Water Apportionment Accord among the provinces. 

The provincial governments argue that in accordance with the provisions contained in para-2 of the Apportionment Accord, 1991, 117.35 MAF water from the Indus River is distributed among all the provinces as follows: Punjab’s share would be 47.7 per cent water ie l 55.94 MAF, of which 37.01 MAF in Kharif and 18.87 MAF in Rabi. The share of Sindh was fixed at 41.5 per cent ie 48.76 MAF of which 33.94 MAF for Kharif and 14.82 MAF in Rabi. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share was fixed at 8.78 MAF of which 3.48 MAF in Kharif and 2.3 MAF in Rabi - the quota of KPK Government canals: 1.80 MAF in Kharif and 1.2 MAF in Rabi. This constitutes 7.50 per cent share for the province in total available water resources. The share of Balochistan was determined at 3.87 MAF of which 2.85 MAF is for Kharif and 1.02 MAF for Rabi. This implies that the share of Balochistan was fixed at 3.3 per cent of the total allocation. The Balochistan government maintains that the province has no separate canal to extract its share from the barrage and all supplies to the province are regulated by Sindh through their own system. Due to control over the regulation of system at barrages as well as in the parent channels in their territory, Sindh often prefers to fulfill its own demand resultantly Balochistan suffers from shortage of irrigation supplies during peak seasons. While in case of rains entire flood supplies are diverted to Balochistan which cause inundation/serious destruction as was experienced during 2010 and 2012. Besides, Irsa authorizations are not implemented in letter and spirit and Balochistan faces short supplies from the Indus every year.

“Since Balochistan is aggrieved due to injudicious distribution of power resources, as such any legislation/ amendments in the Irsa Act that may secure the interests and water rights of the province would be supported for promulgation by Balochistan. Irsa may also be empowered to implement its decisions by the provinces,” said Additional Secretary (technical).