Re-opening of Chashma-Jhelum canal: Punjab government protests against Irsa's refusal

The Punjab government has protested against Indus River System Authority's (IRSA) refusal to release 5,000 cusecs water in the 22,000 cusecs Chashma-Jhelum Link canal from January 28 after a month long closure of canals to irrigate Rabi crops in south Punjab, official sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday.
They said that Punjab had submitted its indent of water releases from the Indus River out of its 19.7 Million Acre Feet (MAF) remaining share of water for the Rabi crops , but IRSA has turned down its indent and refused to release 5,000 cusecs water in the CJ link, due to opposition of Sindh province.
Punjab Irrigation officials pointed out that under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty IRSA is bound to release water in the 22000 cusecs CJ link canal since it was constructed as an alternate source of water to irrigates crops in the command area of river Ravi and River Sutlej that were given to India as part of a comprehensive water distribution treaty between Pakistan and India.
They said that IRSA has called a meeting of its advisory committee on 1st February Monday to reapportion the available water in the Tarbela and Mangla dams among the provinces up to April 14 for Rabi crops in view of the 34 percent less water in the reservoirs as compared to last year.
Expressing dismay over IRSA's decision not to reopen CJ link canal, Convenor / founder Punjab Water Council Farooque Bajwa said that farmers of south Punjab will suffer a loss of Rs 130 billion for 4 million tons less wheat production and damage to other crops in four months due to short supply of irrigation water.
He said the 22000 cusecs CJ link canal irrigates nine districts of south Punjab including Jhang, Khanewal, Vehari, Lodhran, Multan, Bahawalpur, Layya, Bhakar, Muzafargarh through a network of link canals of Havelian, Rangur, Trimmu Panjnad, Trimmu Sidhnai, Sidhnai - Mailsi Bahawal and Sidhnai Multan canals. Bajwa contended that IRSA is dominated by Sindh lobby as there is only one member of Punjab that contributes 80 percent to the agriculture sector, the backbone of the national economy.
He said IRSA must realise that Kharif sowing and harvesting and Rabi sowing and harvesting seasons in Sindh start at least one month ahead of the Punjab therefore there should be separate schedules, instead of one for water releases in the two provinces. "Since IRSA prepares one schedule for the two provinces, it benefits Sindh and hampers Punjab the agriculture production" he added.
Bajwa accused the Punjab government of its complete failure to present and protect interests of Punjab farmers, especially of the south Punjab with its lukewarm and defeatist mentality in the IRSA meeting.
They said that the IRSA has called a meeting of its advisory committee on February Monday to reapportion the available water in the Tarbela and Mangla dams among the provinces up to April 14 for Rabi crops in view of the 34 percent less water in the reservoirs as compared to last year.
Expressing concern over IRSA's decision not to reopen CJ link canal, Convenor / founder Punjab Water Council and an agronomist Farooque Bajwa said that farmers of south Punjab will suffer a loss of Rs 130 billion as there would be at least 4 million tons less wheat production alone in four months due to short supply of irrigation water.
He said that the 22000 cusecs CJ link canal irrigates nine districts of south Punjab including Jhang, Khanewal, Vehari, Lodhran, Multan, Bahawalpur, Layya, Bhakar, Muzafargarh through a network of link canals as Havelian, Rangur, Trimmu Panjnad, Trimmu Sidhnai, Sidhnai - Mailsi Bahawal link canal, Sidhnai Multan link canals.
Bajwa contended that IRSA is dominated by Sindh lobby as there is only one member of Punjab province that contributes 80 percent to the agriculture sector, the backbone of the national economy.
Meanwhile IRSA on Thursday released 43,000 cusecs water from the reservoirs and barrages against the inflows of 34,700 cusecs water in the four rivers, Indus 14,700 cusecs, Kabul 8,300 cusecs, Jhelum 5,600 cusecs and Chenab 5,100 cusecs. According to river flows report of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Punjab was provided 17,000 cusecs water from Jhelum, Chenab and Indus rivers (Jhelum 6,000 cusecs, Chenab 5,100 cusecs and Indus 6,000 cusecs as against 21,400 cusecs water to Sindh at Guddu barrage on river Indus.
Of this quantity, Sindh Irrigation discharged 19440 cusecs water towards Sukkar barrage from where 4100 cusecs water is being released downstream towards Kotri barrage.
Meanwhile rain with snowfall occurred in upper Punjab, NWFP, Balochistan and Kashmir during the past 24 hours. Met office recorded chief amounts of rainfall (mm) as Dir=35, chitral=21, Parachinar =19, Pattan=18.6, Lower dir=17, Gupis=13, Saidu sharif=12, Drosh=10.4, Quetta(PBO)=9, Gawadar=9, Peshawar=7, Balakot=5 Lowest Minimum Temperature Parachinar = -10 °C.