HYDERABAD: While water flows have somewhat improved in the Indus river system, early monsoon rains have eventually rescued the water-scarce Sindh where water thirsty crops, mainly cotton, had been awaiting relief.

With increasing temperature in Tarbela’s catchment, flows in the dam have started increasing as well. Hitting dead level in mid-May, the dam’s level remained unchanged till June 29. Statistics showed level of national reservoir started improving from June 30 (1,399.48) and on July 9, it stood at 1,465.58. Now water was being stored in the dam.

“We anticipate to have considerable storages if flows keep coming in,” said Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Director (Operations) Khalid Idris Rana. “But as far as Mangla’s storage is concerned, it will not go beyond 1,170 level against its maximum storage of 1,242,” he said.

Storing water in Tarbela, he explained, was necessary because in case there was a dip, which had been quite unusual throughout this season, flows would have to be increased for the provinces. He disclosed that Irsa increased conveyance losses for Sindh as per the province’s demand from 36pc-35pc while Punjab’s conveyance losses remained 36pc. Guddu would be having 150,000 cusecs upstream flows in next 48-72 hours, according to him.

Rohri canal official says flows in canals will be increased once the sky is clear

“Increasing flows will not perhaps serve the purpose in view of present monsoon spell of rains visiting Sindh. Such discharge might be wasted otherwise and we don’t have water when the province needs it,” he said.

Flows for Sindh province have increased at Chashma barrage where the province’s indent for water flows was placed. Chashma’s downstream flow stood at 210,000 cusecs on July 9 though the flows had remained below 100,000 till June 11. “From June 7, flows downstream Chashma increased to 205,000 cusecs on July 7 and 210,000 cusecs on July 9,” said an irrigation official.

According to another official, who wished not to be named, flows from Chashma should have been increased even further to enable growers cultivate their rice crop in right bank areas of Sindh.

Rains impact

However, Sukkur barrage’s major canals’ administrators in left bank areas have sought reductions in their canals in view of heavy early monsoon rains. These canals are Khairpur Feeder East, Khairpur Feeder West and Rohri canal. “Rains have come aplenty in Rohri [canal] catchment,” said Zaheer Memon, Rohri canal’s superintending engineer.

Gauge in Rohri canal has reduced from 8ft to 5.5ft, according to him. This reduction is sought at off-taking point of the canal at barrage. Such rains are not seen in last 15 years. “We will start increasing flows in the canals once sky starts clearing and sun making its presence felt,” the superintending engineer said. Reduction in discharges has also been reported in right bank Dadu canal due to heavy rains.

Cotton has suffered badly in terms of sowing acreage this season. Only 81pc sowing could have been achieved until June’s last week. One doesn’t know how grower would be able to salvage their crops in water-scarce areas.

“Every cloud has a silver lining,” said Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) vice president Mehmood Nawaz Shah, adding that rains had been extremely beneficial for water-starved crops though cotton’s acreage had been seriously undermined this season. “But rains have been too widespread and in absence of such rains, even paddy cultivation would have become a major challenge for growers.”

Situation in paddy-growing right bank areas, however, was different, he said. Admittedly, he said, flows had started improving in dam but quantum wise that was a lot to be desired.

Shortage in Sindh, Balochistan

The right bank areas — exclusively meant for rice cultivation — were still facing shortage, as rainfall doesn’t offer any substantial relief. Paddy is also grown in left bank areas of Kotri barrage. “We are not yet able to cultivate our paddy nurseries,” said Ishaq Mugheri, paddy growers’ leader from north-west Qambar-Shahdadkot district of Sindh.

His district is fed by Sukkur barrage’s Khirthar Canal that also provides Balochistan’s share of water in interprovincial water distribution. Allocation-wise shortage was still there at Sindh’s barrages i.e. overall 40pc at three barrages. Among these barrages, Sukkur reported 43.17pc, Guddu 40.94pc and Kotri 35.8pc shortage till July 9.

“Farmers have prepared nurseries with tube-well water in areas wherever groundwater is sweet,” Mugheri said. But, he said, generally growers were still waiting for irrigation water supply for cultivation.

On the other hand, Balochistan also faced water shortage even after improved flows in storage at Tarbela dam, Kabul river and Chashma downstream. “There has been no improvement in water supply for our province ever-since our visit to Sukkur barrage,” said Hameed Mengal, Irsa member from Balochistan.

The province gets its water share from Pat Feeder of Guddu and Khirthar canals of Sukkur barrage. Just like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan is exempted of shortage. “Our province is bearing with 61pc shortage, otherwise, 10,800 cusecs of water was to be provided to the province from Sindh’s two barrages,” he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab’s link canals, Chashma-Jehlum and Taunsa-Panjnad have been drawing water since July 6.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2022