HYDERABAD/QUETTA: After visiting Sukkur Barrage a couple of days back, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) secretary has finally come up with strongly-worded letter to demand release of 1/3rd share of Balochistan from North Western Canal (NWC) of the barrage, which has been undergoing rehabilitation in the wake of the June 20 incident that had left seven of its gates damaged.

An Irsa team led by its Chairman Abdul Hameed Mengal, who is from Balochis­tan, had visited the barrage on July 8 and held a detailed meeting with Chief Engineer Mansoor Memon, CE Right Bank Region Mukhtiar Abro and other barrage officials, besides inspecting the rehabilitation work at some gates.

The visit was undertaken on a directive of Khalid Magsi, the Chairman of National Assem­bly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources.

Irsa Secretary Khalid Idrees Rana (also its director of operations), has in his July 10 letter to the Sindh irrigation secretary complained that the “CE Right Bank Sukkur Barra­ge is not implementing directions issued by secretary irrigation and as of today water availability at Garang regulator is 33pc and 53pc less than 1/3rd share [5050 cusecs] of NWC and 200 cusecs of Irsa allocation respectively”.

Secretary’s strongly-worded letter tells Sindh irrigation dept to follow directives

He reminded the irrigation secretary that on July 8 the CE was directed that till completion of repair works at the barrage, 1/3rd share of water available in the NWC should be ensured at Garang Regulator. The regulator is located at RD-102 of the canal’s Khirthar branch from where Balochistan receives water.

Mr Rana pointed out that 5,050 cusecs were available on July 10 and as per the decision for the interim period, Garang supplies should be 1,683 cusecs against which 1,128 cusecs were received i.e. 555 cusecs short while overall shortage as per Irsa’s allocations of 2,400 cusecs was 1,272 cusecs i.e. 53pc.

“It is regretfully informed CE Right Bank is not implementing directives issued by secretary and as of today water availability at Garang regulator is 33pc and 53pc less than 1/3rd share i.e., 5,050 cusecs of NWC and 2,400 cusecs of Irsa allocation respectively,” said Mr Rana.

He urged the irrigation secretary that the “CE Right Bank be directed in clear words” to provide 1/3rd share of water to Balochistan at Garang regulator and such arrangement should be continued till repair works of barrage gates were completed i.e. by July 20.

Balochistan confirms shortage

Balochistan Minister for Irrigation Mir Sadiq Umrani, when contacted on Thursday for his comment, confirmed that Balochistan was not getting its due share from Indus through Sukkur Barrage.

He said that vast areas of western Nasirabad were badly affected due to the inadequate water supplies in recent weeks.

“Our share in water flows from the barrage is 2,400 cusecs but the Khirthar Canal through which we receive supplies is getting just 1,000 to 1,100 cusecs,” he told Dawn to contest Irsa’s statement that it was releasing 1/3rd share of Balochistan into the canal.

The minister alleged that Sindh was stealing Balochistan’s water, and lamented that paddy growers in western Nasirabad were badly affected by the situation.

He also called for immediate measures to clear Khirthar Canal of silt, that had been piling up since the 2022 floods.

Balochistan gets supplies from Guddu Barra­ge’s (right bank) Pat Feeder Canal as well where a flow of 6,700 cusecs was available on July 11 and where 11pc shortage was also being observed, according to Mr Rana.

Minutes of July 8 meeting at barrage

Irsa is said to have issued minutes of the July 8 meeting which states that Irsa’s director of operations [Mr Rana] referred to several letters regarding short supplies to Balochistan canals but [Sindh’s] irrigation department regrettably didn’t take notice of it. Irsa released full indented supplies for Balochistan canals as per 10 dailies approved by the Irsa Advisory Committee (IAC), which had approved share of Balochistan canals with consensus on April 2.

After temporary restoration of damaged gates, Irsa started releasing full indented supplies to Sindh and Balochistan provinces, yet Khirthar Canal was and is still running with 900 cusecs.

Balochistan officials complained of chronic short supplies at Garang despite releases of due water shares by Irsa, according to the minutes.

It mentioned that the [Sindh] irrigation secretary assured the meeting that his department would make efforts to address water shortages in Balochistan by acting upon Irsa’s recommendations.

“For immediate redressal of issue and forthwith providing relief, [Irsa] secretary asked CE

Right Bank to ensure maximum water availability at Garang by adjusting NWC supplies internally,” the minutes mentioned.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2024