The government has decided to install telemetry system on one canal in every province as a pilot project to monitor losses at different points. "Now we are moving to launching a pilot project according to which telemetry system will be installed on one canal in every province, from barrage to tail, to check water losses and for better management," said Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Minister for Water and Power, after an inter-provincial meeting on water distribution strategy.
He said that provinces have been advised to submit their proposals within a month.
He said that the meeting had been convened to discuss water distribution strategy for Rabi season in the light of foreseen 48 percent shortage during the season.
"The provinces are satisfied with the distribution of water and now they will submit their Rabi plans to be finalised in a meeting on December 13," he said.
The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has also convened a meeting of provincial technical experts on December 11 to discuss distribution plan in accordance with water availability.
Jatoi said that the provinces, which were earlier not happy with each other for what they called 'unjust' water distribution, "today they appreciated telemetry system installed on barrages"
Punjab Irrigation Minister Amir Cheema, who was also sitting with Jatoi, seconded the proposal, saying that this would definitely help in better water management.
Jatoi said that Sindh drew more water than its share while Punjab took less water, which would be adjusted in the next meeting.
An Irsa official told reporters that Sindh drew 26000 cusecs water from December 6 to 10, while Punjab took 7,000 cusecs from Thal canal, 5,000 cusecs from CJ, 10,000 cusecs from Taunsa and 31,000 cusecs from Mangla. NWFP and Balochistan drew 3000 cusecs and 38000 cusecs, respectively.
He said that Punjab drew 4.36 MAF from October 1 to November 30 against its share of 6.2 MAF; Sindh took 4.18 MAF against its share of 3.79 MAF; NWFP took 0.27 MAF against 0.44 MAF; and Balochistan received 0.31 MAF against 0.71 MAF.
Sindh Irrigation Secretary confirmed that his province drew more water than its share for post-Kharif and early sowing, and it was according to the plan. He said that his province did not take up the issue of 'historical uses' or 'Accord', clarifying that this was not the proper forum to raise such issues.
"I did not take up the issue of historical uses or Accord as it is not the competent forum. We will raise the matter at proper forum with full force," he added.
He said that the province has extended the turn period of water supply from 10 days to 15 days as per the availability of water. He, however, added that the province has no shortage of water at present. In the months of March and April, the province would face shortage, he said.
Irsa Chairman Amanullah Khattak gave a detailed presentation on the current situation of water in the meeting. He informed the meeting that total average requirement for Rabi season is 36.386 MAF. He said that based on the available storage and estimated inflows in the rivers the anticipated shortage for the Rabi is assessed at 47 percent. He apprised the meeting that the withdrawal of water by provinces during October and November was 37 percent less than the corresponding months of last year.
The meeting also took note of the dire need for capacity building of Irsa to precisely project river inflows and anticipated water availability on long-term basis, based on meteorological parameters on most modern lines.
Jatoi assured Irsa to provide full support in this regard, including requisite finances and foreign training of Irsa staff. This would enable Irsa to make its water plan on the basis of six months forecasting of temperature and rains.
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