The water shortage crisis in the country is intensifying and has reached 17% due to the dwindling water flow in rivers. There is a conflict between Punjab and Sindh over the share of water while the Sindh Assembly witnessed ruckus over the matter and even passed a strongly-worded resolution condemning the reduced market share. The situation would certainly worsen over the next few months.
There was a heated debate between Punjab and Sindh over the non-implementation of the 1991 water accord during a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Water. Sindh demanded to implement Para-2 of the Water Accord which states that Punjab’s share during the Kharif season is 37% and Sindh is 33%. IRSA chairman, who is from Punjab, expressed concern and said they had anticipated 10% shortage till May 20 but have revised their target and now expect 17% shortages due to the receding water supplies.
The IRSA chairman said water supplies currently stand at 186,600 cusecs, which is 12.62% less than water flows of 214,000 cusecs of the corresponding period last year. However, if compared with the average water flows which stood at 249,000 cusecs per day, the flows have dropped by 24.9%. He accused Sindh of causing an acute shortage in Balochistan and receiving more than its share. He also blamed Sindh for inflating water losses and misreporting the water supply.
The IRSA chairman referred to an inspection of River Indus in 2019 that confirmed misreporting of 15-20% losses by the Sindh Irrigation department. He was confronted by several members who questioned how a low-riparian unit can commit water theft downstream. The committee allowed sending inspectors to monitor the situation and asked that Sindh and Punjab should be given their due share.
The water level is also receding in Mangla and Tarbela – the nation’s largest dams – and could reach dead level with days. The Punjab Irrigation Department wants to halt water release to Sindh from Mangla, fearing that if the reservoir was not filled there would be severe shortages even during the Rabi winter season and inflict huge damage to Punjab, the country’s food basket.
The water crisis is certainly worsening and the country can face drought in the coming years. We need to make the water distribution system transparent and give federating units their due share. The tension between the provinces and even people will certainly escalate soon as we face an adverse crisis.
