Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has projected up to 40 per cent shortage of water in cropping season of Rabi 2018-19, starting from October 1, 2018. These alarming shortfall figures were calculated at a meeting of Irsa Advisory Committee held on Tuesday in Islamabad. "About 35-40 per cent shortfall is anticipated. However, final figures will be given by the Advisory Committee in its meeting scheduled for October 1, 2018 in Islamabad. Chairman Irsa, Sher Zaman Khan will preside over the meeting.
Irsa has invited Chief Engineering Advisor/ Chairman Federal Flood Commission (CFFC), Water and Power members Wapda, Secretaries of Irrigation Departments and Agriculture Punjab, Sindh, KPK and Balochistan for their input in the meeting.
The committee will accord approval of anticipated availability criteria for Rabi season 2018-19 after consultation with the provinces," Irsa spokesperson Khalid Idrees Rana stated.
Sindh government has already raised the issue of water scarcity in the province due to which some of the districts have been declared drought-hit areas, and will raise objections to the opening of Chashma Jehlum (CJ) and Trimmu Panjnad (TP) link canals like the past.
There are apprehensions that Irsa was involved in unjust water distribution among the provinces and Sindh is invariably hit as other two provinces i.e. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are exempted from shortage according to the Water Accord 1991.
"Water situation is critical, however, any western wave may bring rainfall in December 2018 or January 2019 which may reduce the shortfall," said Irsa spokesperson.
During the current Kharif season, Punjab faced 20pc shortage, Sindh 17pc, Balochistan 44pc and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 33pc. The total water shortage for Kharif crops was 21pc.
During the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources led by Shamim Afridi, senators from Balochistan expressed dissatisfaction over the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord and demanded a fresh accord and monetary compensation for utilisation of its water share by other provinces since 1991.
According to Sindh, it has incurred 31 per cent agricultural losses due to water scarcity in the province. A former Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah maintained that there is a need to address certain issues that were essential in the context of water scarcity in Pakistan.
On Tuesday, inflows in Indus River at Tarbela were recorded at 59,700 cusecs against outflows of 12,000 cusecs. Inflows in Kabul River at Nowshera were 10,200 cusecs and outflows at 10200 cusecs. Inflows in Jhelum River at Mangla were 9100 cusecs while outflows were at 150,000 cusecs while inflows at Chenab at Marala was 55600 cusecs against outflows of 42,000 cusecs.
Inflows at Jinnah barrage were 148,100 cusecs and outflows 141,100 cusecs whereas Chashma inflows were 143,200 cusecs and outflows 139,000 cusecs. Inflows at Taunsa were 139,600 cusecs and outflows 116,600 cusecs and at Panjnad 10,200 cusecs against zero outflows. Inflows at Guddu were 118,600 cusecs and outflows 91,100 cusecs whereas at Sukkar inflows were 84,500 cusecs and outflows at 32,400; Kotri inflows were 33,800 cusecs and outflows nil.
Tarbela's minimum operating level is 1,386 feet whereas present level is 1511.58 feet, maximum conservation level 1,550 feet, live storage today 3.978 million acre feet (MAF).
Mangla's minimum operating level 1050 feet while present level is at 1169.15 feet, maximum conservation level 1242 feet, live storage today 2.623 MAF. Chashma's minimum operating level is 638.15 feet whereas present level is at 644.40 feet, maximum conservation level 649 feet, live storage today 0.110 MAF.
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