THIS refers to the report ‘Sindh on the verge of running dry’ (May 12), and, more specifically, the accompanying photograph, showing the sandy, dry bed of the Indus resembling a desert as can be seen above. For years Sindh has been demanding its due share of water guaranteed under various agreements, but the promised quota never reaches the land for one or the other reason, which, needless to say, is unfortunate.

For the last few months, a chronic water shortage has besieged the country. It is so bad to the extent that the United Nations recently declared Pakistan to be a “drought-hit” country. The shortage has been especially damaging for Sindh where, according to news reports, barrages have been facing up to 60 per cent inflow shortage on average.

Though they are often wrongly politicised, Sindh’s grievances are genuine and in some ways artificially created due to bad management of water resources in the upper parts of the country. For example, Chashma-Jehlum, a flood canal built in the 1970s, has recently been reopened and is taking away 2,000 cusecs of water even in the midst of the ongoing drought. This is beyond comprehension.

Not only is this act of reopening of the flood canal in violation of the inter-provincial water agreement of 1991, the operation of Chashma-Jehlum, along with another canal, Thal, has been a bone of inter-provincial contention for many years.

It seems there is more to the continued rejection of Sindh’s demands by the relevant authorities for water management, such as the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

Moreover, the fact that they present illogical arguments to counter Sindh’s narrative smacks of mala fide intent. It is also ironic that these bodies have been campaigning for the construction of controversial dams over the Indus River when Sindh has not been provided its due share of water for decades.

On the face of it, improving water distribution and making it more equitable and efficient, and conservation of existing water and storage resources are not on the priority list of the policymakers except when it profits them.

Had such issues been given importance, we would not have witnessed the slow death of Manchhar, the largest freshwater lake at least in the country, if not in Asia. The same goes for hundreds of other small lakes and natural reservoirs in Sindh and other parts of the country. Those at the helm of affairs should seriously rethink the country’s water distribution policy while keeping in mind the economic affairs tied to the supply of water. Water should be distributed when people need it the most, contrary to the prevailing practices.

Instead of building large dams, which cost an arm and a limb but are one of the least effective methods of storing and regulating water, sustainable and people-friendly ideas should be given priority. One hopes that the authorities would wake up to the grim reality and realise the urgency of the matter.

Abdul Jabar Rustamani
Wahi Pandhi

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2022