LARKANA: The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) has warned that delay in releasing water into Rice Canal and acute water shortage in channels in Qambar-Shahdadkot district may have serious implication for rice cultivation and trigger disputes between Sindh and Balochistan over distribution of water.

Ishaq Mugheri, president of SAB Larkana chapter, told Dawn on Wednesday that so little water had so far been released into North Western Canal (NWC) from Sukkur Barrage that it had failed to improve situation in Ratodero branch, SKT branch, Salar, Saifullah Magsi branch.

He said that Ratodero branch irrigated 70,000 acres of land, SKT branch was designed to irrigate 118,000 acres and Saifullah Magsi branch was meant for watering 156,000 acres.

In past, 10,000 cusecs water was released into the NWC on May 15 in which Sindh’s share was 7,200 and Balochistan’s was 2,250 cusecs, he said quoting sources in irrigation department.

He said that beds of Bhutta, Soonharo and Gul Shakh tributaries had dried up and Saifullah Magsi branch had been without water, which had equally affected humans, animals and crops.

He said that there was no chance of cultivating rice with so little water which was very likely to trigger disputes between Sindh and Balochistan. Patooja, Qubo, Shahbaig, Dhori, Imdad minor, Eidan, Noorpur and other tributaries of Saifullah Magsi branch had been without water, he said.

He said that Qambar-Shahdadkot district had highly saline underground water. If steps were not taken to treat it and make it drinkable in time it would lead to water crisis and health issues in the district.

He said the Rice Canal which was exclusively meant for irrigating rice belt had been without water at this point in time when it used to flow to the brim in past.

Gada Hussain Mahesar, vice president of SAB Larkana chapter, saw bleak chances of water to be released into Rice Canal from Sukkur Barrage and said that the canal used to flow to capacity by May 10 but at present there was no water in it.

He said that naturally, the belated arrival of water would affect rice cultivation. Paddy was cultivated on 2.70 million acres in Sindh but there was no water in Rice Canal while Dadu Canal, which was perennial canal, also had little water, he said.

Mr Mahesar, who was former central president of Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association, called for clearance of silt from canals and their offshoots so that when water was finally released into them it could flow without any obstruction.

Mr Mahesar called for early release of water into Rice Canal and North Western Canal to not only save people from dying of thirst but also paddy crop from colossal damage. The belated preparation of paddy nurseries would definitely have negative impact on rice production, he said.

He said that indigenous seeds had almost disappeared from market and hybrid seeds were being sold at the rate of Rs1,000 per kilogramme.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2018