IRSA warns of up to 30% water shortage in Kharif season, posing imminent risk to crops
Published on: April 3, 2024.
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Cotton and Rice Seedlings in Sindh at Risk Due to Water Shortage
Multiple cash crops in Pakistan are at risk as the Indus River Authority (IRSA) predicts a water shortage of up to 30% in the Kharif season. The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has failed to address the constraints of the Tarbela and Mangla Dams, leading to this potential crisis. The shortage is expected to reduce to 7% later in the season, but adverse effects on cotton and rice seedlings in Sindh may occur if the limitations of Tarbela Dam are not resolved.
IRSA recently held a meeting to approve the Water Availability Criteria for the upcoming Kharif season. Chairman Abdul Hameed Mengal presided over the session, which was attended by IRSA members, provincial irrigation department officials, and other authorities.
An official from the provincial Irrigation Department stated that during the early Kharif season from April 1 to June 10, there will be no water available for below Kotri water releases. This water is crucial for preventing sea intrusion into Sindh’s agricultural land. Already, approximately 3.5 million acres of agricultural land in Sindh have been eroded since 1956 due to the non-availability of below Kotri water releases.
Sindh expressed opposition to the current three-tier formula for water distribution and called for the implementation of the Water Accord 1991 and its para-2, ensuring 4-5 million acre-feet of water. However, IRSA clarified that the issue is pending with the Council of Common Interests (CCI), and until then, the three-tier formula will continue to be used for water distribution between the provinces.
Looking at the broader picture, the country is expected to have a total of 99.41 million acre-feet of water during the Kharif season. This includes 23.55 million acre-feet in the early Kharif season and 75.85 million acre-feet in the late Kharif season from June 11 to the end of September. In terms of canals, Punjab will receive 31.13 million acre-feet of water, Sindh 28.81 million acre-feet, Balochistan 2.85 million acre-feet, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will have 0.28 million acre-feet.
Both Sindh and Punjab have blamed each other for the majority of water losses in their respective territories. Sindh estimates the losses to be around 40%, while Punjab claims it to be only 20%. The IRSA Advisory Committee decided that system losses should be considered at 20% until the joint discharge measurement, after which further decisions will be made.
To address the operational constraints of the Tarbela and Mangla Dams, a committee will be formed consisting of members from IRSA (Punjab and Sindh) and nominated chief engineers from the Power Irrigation Departments of both provinces. The committee will physically review and monitor the dam sites and prepare a report for resolution.
In addition, Punjab and Sindh will activate their respective Discharge Observation Cells (DOCs) to report data at different locations. Punjab SDOs will be stationed at Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri Barrages in Sindh, while Sindh SDOs will monitor discharges at Jinnah H/W, Chashma Barrage, Taunsa H/W, and Panjnad H/W in Punjab.
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