ISLAMABAD: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has summoned an emergency meeting of its advisory committee to review the current water situation and anticipated criteria for the cropping season of Kharif 2018.
This emergent meeting is scheduled to be held here on May 15, 2018, under the chairmanship of IRSA Chairman Ahmed Kamal. Similarly, meeting notice has been forwarded to all provincial I&P Departments secretaries, and secretaries of four provincial agriculture departments have also been informed to attend this important meeting personally. Likewise, two members of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Ministry of Water Resources chief engineering adviser are also informed to personally attend the meeting.
“I am directed to state that under chapter III clause 10 of IRSA Act XXII of 1992, Emergent IRSA Advisory Committee meeting will be held on May 15, 2018 at 11:00 hours under the chairmanship of IRSA Chairman Ahmed Kamal, headquarters 35-Mauve Area, G/10/4, Islamabad,” said IRSA notice signed by Director Operations Muhammad Khalid Idrees Rana, dated May 12, 2018.
The agenda of the advisory committee meeting has been titled “Review of water situation and anticipated criteria for Kharif 2018.”
Sharing details of the current water situation, IRSA spokesman further informed that river inflows stood at 110800 cusecs, while river outflows stood at 119200 cusecs and storage was recorded at 0.255 MAF (million acre feet) on May 12, 2018. He also informed that total distribution of water to all provinces stands at 111000 cusecs as Punjab is getting 56000 cusecs (-48 per cent), Sindh 46000 cusecs (-48 per cent), Balochistan 5900 cusecs (0 per cent) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) 3100 cusecs (0 per cent).
He also told that on May 12, 2018, Chashma Jehlum (CJ) Link Canal has been closed totally, Thal Canal Punjab has reduced to 2000 cusecs from 3500 cusecs while share of Taunsa barrage canals has reduced from 6000 cusecs to 3000 cusecs. He said Sindh’s share has reduced from 50,000 cusecs to 43000 cusecs and Balochistan’s demand stands at 8000 cusecs but it has been decided to continue 6000 cusecs to the province. Also, KPK is currently receiving 3100 cusecs.
Water Management?
within 3-4 yrs, we will have to decide about fate of crops which require extensive water intake like Rice.
Either we do research on techniques to reduce water requirements for such crops OR we will have to implement programs… which areas to be allowed and how many acres etc.
worst ever situation for pakisatni AGR economy