While the much-awaited lining of the Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder Upper — a vital water supply source for Karachi — is expected to begin soon, the Sindh government still struggles to get an additional share of water to meet the needs of the provincial metropolis as the decision is long overdue.

Sindh has lately taken up the matter with the Council of Common Interests (CCI). “CCI is requested to consider/allocate an additional share of 1,200 cusecs for Karachi as envisaged in the CCI summary of Jan 12, 1991, for the apportionment of water of Indus and its tributaries and further to principally decide allocation for Karachi for a period beyond 2025, because the expansion of metropolis is on a larger scale,” concludes the summary prepared by the irrigation department and signed in May 2023 by Dr Mohammad Sohail Rajput, outgoing chief secretary Sindh government which completed its five-year term last month.

Sindh reminded CCI of para-8 of the summary, where it is mentioned that the water requirement of Karachi needs special consideration. It recommended that 520 cusecs from May to October and 450 cusecs from Nov to April be supplied to Karachi from Kotri Barrage’s canal.

“In the absence of accurate and reliable data, no recommendation could be made from a period beyond 1985. This may be considered by the Pakistan government at the appropriate time,” the Sindh government quoted from Jan 1991’s CCI summary. The irrigation department supplies 1,200 cusecs of water to Karachi through Keenjhar-Gujjo — a system fed by Keenjhar Lake.

Since 1991, the city’s water needs have increased from 285m gallons per day to 377m

Karachi’s water needs increased from 520 cusecs or 285 million gallons per day (MGD) to 700 cusecs or 377MGD when Accord 1991 was signed. This led to the implementation of the K-III project, with demand increasing to 1,200 cusecs or 645MGD water.

Federal and Sindh governments plan to execute K-IV to ensure an additional requirement of 1,200 cusecs of water over the next 20 years (2005-2025 requirements), thus raising total consumption of water in Karachi from 1,200 cusecs or 645MGD to 2,400 cusecs or 1292MGD.

Water supplies could be made from Keenjhar, contended the irrigation department, for 153 days, but 1,200 cusecs of water were supplied round the year by withdrawing supplies of existing agriculture command of Thatta. “If demand [of Karachi] is to increase to 2,400 cusecs, then share of canals feeding Thatta will be used to fill Keenjhar,” said the department.

Thatta has a low score on the Human Development Index (HDI) 2015. National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) 2010-2011 survey ranks Thatta as one of Pakistan’s poorest districts. Coastal Thatta — prone to cyclones and disasters — feeds Karachi with vegetables, fodder, wheat and milk, besides drinking water. “Water allocation of Thatta, protected under Accord 1991, shall not be diverted because it will deteriorate the situation there even further,” argued Sindh.

Sindh has requested an additional 1,200 cusecs of water for K-IV, suggesting it should come from the federal pool since Karachi receives people from all over the country

Sindh agrees with the 1991 Water Accord’s summary, but the decision to consider water demand for Karachi has been delayed since 2002. The provincial government has informed the federal government that Karachi requires only 1,200 cusecs up to 2025 (through K-IV). So, Sindh urged CCI to allocate an additional 1,200 cusecs of water for Karachi.

Meanwhile, the process for hiring a consultant has already begun for the lining project. Applications will be accepted by Sept 14. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved this Rs39.9 billion lining scheme to be executed by the irrigation department on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis by the federal and Sindh governments.

The perennial KB feeder is a major off-taking canal of Kotri barrage on its right side. It feeds Keenjhar Lake, which then supplies water to Karachi through the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB).

KB Feeder receives around 7,600 cusecs from the barrage against a designed discharge of 9,100 cusecs. The lining would help the canal carry 9,100 cusecs at its head.

The irrigation department provides Karachi with 1,200 cusecs of water, including 600 cusecs out of Sindh’s share. The lining project aims to save 500 cusecs of water, which will be provided to Karachi to increase supply from 1,200 cusecs to 1,700 cusecs for K-IV. Two canals on the left side of the barrage will save 700 cusecs in the next phase of lining. Water demand increased from 600 cusecs to 1,200 cusecs when K-III was launched, said Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage and project director of the scheme, Haji Khan Jamali.

Sindh requested an additional 1,200 cusecs of water for K-IV. They suggested it should come from the federal pool since Karachi receives people from all over the country.

The irrigation secretary issued a no-objection certificate for the K-IV project linked to the lining of canals. This will save around 1,400 cusecs of water in two phases. The first phase will save 500 cusecs with the lining of KB Feeder Upper, according to Mr Jamali.

A Rs80 billion extension for Keenjhar Lake is being planned to provide water for K-IV. The scheme aims for 56 million acre-feet (MAF) gross storage and 0.4 MAF live storage. National Engineering Services Pakistan is conducting a study, while the Rs40bn lining scheme is expected to finish in four years.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, September 4th, 2023