The shortage of water for early Kharif season for Punjab and Sindh has increased from over 35 per cent to 41 per cent from projected 31 per cent due to lower inflows than estimates firmed up by the water regulator in consultation with Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD).
The new forecast for early Kharif starting from April to June each year has been finalised at an emergency meeting of Irsa Advisory Committee on Tuesday presided over by Chairman Irsa Ahmad Kamal. Besides others, the meeting was attended by Irsa members from Sindh, Balochistan, Chief Engineer Hydrology Wapda, Chief Engineer Mangla, Director Agriculture Sindh, Chief Engineer KP, Director PMD, Advisor Irrigation Department Sindh and Consultant Irrigation Punjab.
All members of the Advisory Committee once again emphasized the need for construction of new reservoirs in the country to meet increasing demand of water for irrigation. According to Irsa spokesperson, Rana Khalid Idrees, water inflows remained 15 per cent below expectations - 7.9 MAF from 9.32 MAF. Punjab objected to heavy losses from Taunsa to Kotri which were about 1 MAF.
Sindh which is already raising hue and cry due to severe shortage of water will have to face 47 per cent shortage during early Kharif whereas Punjab will face 53 per cent shortage, indicating hard times for the two provinces. Director Pakistan Metrological Department informed the Irsa Advisory Committee that no change is expected in present situation in May whereas monsoon situation will be forecast in mid June.
The representative of Wapda apprised the committee that the current water scarcity is due to 50 per cent less snowfall in catchment areas. "Now we are mainly depending on rains in monsoon starting from July this year," the spokesperson added. Director General PMD recently informed the Senate's special committee on water scarcity headed by Senator Moula Bux Chandio, that weather forecast for Sindh during monsoon is not very good. KP and Punjab will have normal rains whereas Sindh will receive below normal rains.
The committee which was scheduled to meet on Tuesday to hear "good news" from Chairman Irsa scrapped the meeting at the eleventh hour perhaps due to Irsa Advisory Committee meeting. "Irsa will again review water situation in mid June after issuance of monsoon predictions by PMD,' the spokesperson continued.
A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Director (Operations) Irsa with Director Regulation Punjab and Sindh as members to measure discharges at Guddu and other barrages of the country, aimed at estimating water losses. The spokesperson stated that on a complaint from Balochistan, Sindh agreed to take immediate steps to overcome shortages of Balochistan.
Keeping in view the present rain spell Irsa has changed regulations and increased provincial shares. Now Punjab will get 64000 cusecs of water instead of 56000 cusecs whereas the share of Sindh has been increased to 55000 cusecs from 43000 cusecs. The share of Balochistan will stand at 5000 cusecs and KP at 3100 cusecs. The representatives of Sindh in Senate argued that Irsa should find out a way to increase the share of Sindh for early Kharif by adjusting the share with Punjab. However, Chairman Irsa made it clear that Irsa is only a regulator which distributes water between provinces as per share allocated in the Water Accord 1991.
Irsa has suggested that as the country is facing water scarcity, not within its preview, provinces may adjust their share bilaterally to accommodate each others' needs.
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