THE proposed contentious amendments to the Irsa Act have stirred up quite a few emotions in Sindh. Balochistan, too, is not happy. Facing a backlash from nationalist political forces, farmers and other stakeholders in its popular support base of Sindh — on account of the reported support lent by President Asif Zardari to the changes — the PPP seems to have had a change of heart on the issue recently. Its senators have raised their voice over the purported attempt by the centre to arrogate to itself the powers of the body — and by extension of the provinces — to regulate the distribution of Indus waters under the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991. The Sindh Assembly has also unanimously passed a resolution against this plan. The issue is so important to the people of the province that the resolution elicited the full support of the opposition in the provincial assembly. The resolution warned that any attempt to alter the existing water agreement without consulting the federating units would be considered a violation of the water accord.

Apparently, in response to growing concerns over the government’s intentions regarding the changes, Minister for Water Resources Musadik Malik has claimed that the planned alterations are aimed at enhancing water efficiency and accuracy, assuring the Senate that the objections would be addressed and allies taken into confidence. However, these assurances are unlikely to allay the fears of the smaller provinces, especially Sindh and Balochistan, because of the way the government is attempting to change the complexion of the water regulator by bypassing the Council of Common Interests. The way the government is trying to amend the Irsa Act is violative of Article 154 of the Constitution. Likewise, Article 155 stipulates that water distribution is a matter for the CCI to decide. If the government has no hidden motives, why is it bypassing the CCI? Also, the previous two attempts to alter the Irsa arrangement through an ordinance and the appointment of a retired bureaucrat as its chairman as stipulated in that ordinance indicate that the centre’s intentions are questionable. Sindh is voicing its objections to the controversial amendments. But it is something that will hurt all provinces in future if steamrolled without a discussion by and approval of the CCI. The CCI itself should hear out various stakeholders and water experts before making a final decision.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2024