The water issue once again threatens to create acrimony among the provinces. The acting chairman of the Indus River System Authority has unilaterally asked Wapda to open the Chashma-Jhelum link canal and release 10,000 cusecs of water.

The Punjab government had recently written to Irsa and asked for the release of 15,000 cusecs. But according to a report in this newspaper both the federal government's and Sindh's representative opposed the move. The stalemate over the Chashma-Jhelum canal has persisted for the past several months. It has resulted in boycotts of meetings, protests and resignations by Irsa members when things have not gone their way. Sindh and Balochistan are of the view that Chashma-Jhelum is a flood canal and not for perennial use. The feeling in Punjab is that lessened flows in the canal will adversely affect agriculture in the south of the province. Observers point out that by opening the canal when a flood situation does not exist Punjab wants to set a precedent so that the canal can be used permanently. The lower riparians are wary of this as they fear cuts in their share of water.

Perhaps the key issue here is that the regulatory body must act in a neutral manner. While considering the demands of all the federating units, it must not be seen as tilting towards a particular one. The acting chairman, who is also Punjab's representative in Irsa, should not have taken a unilateral decision. Decisions should be made on technical grounds and should be acceptable to all. A national perspective is required, especially when dealing with an issue as sensitive as water.

Sacrifice, as well as magnanimity, is required of the federating units. It is hoped that the issue is resolved amicably and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. For this to happen there must be dialogue and compromise, as boycotts and further acrimony will lead nowhere. Ultimately, for national cohesion it is essential that water management is undertaken in a judicious manner and that a spirit of accommodation prevails so that contentious issues can be resolved.