Dry season and wide off-the-mark weather forecasts have triggered tensions between the upper riparian Punjab and lower riparian Sindh over water releases from dams, as the reservoir manager, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has made more water releases for power generation leading to less water availability for the ongoing Kharif season.
An official source said a meeting of Indus River System Authority’s (IRSA) advisory committee, presided over by IRSA Chairman Rao Irshad Ali Khan and attended by all members, including the general manager for Tarbela on behalf of the WAPDA chairman, reviewed the water situation on Monday.
The meeting was informed that the Pakistan Metrological Department had forecasted above normal 20 per cent rains during the monsoon season. However, the recorded rainfall was 10 per cent below the normal rainfall. The committee was also informed that more water releases were made for power generation from Tarbela dam by the WAPDA.
The IRSA had directed the WAPDA to fill the dam by four feet daily, but it was filled only one foot by the day, leading to less water availability for irrigational use. The water releases plan for Kharif was finalised on the forecast for the monsoon season.
IRSA members showed serious concern over the situation, and said the WAPDA was responsible for not taking prompt action on IRSA’s request on July 28. The IRSA has already taken up the issue with appropriate forum regarding filling of the dam.
The meeting decided that the provincial water share would be reduced. However, it was resisted by Sindh saying being lower riparian they would face more water shortages. As a result, the members had to vote. Three votes of the federal government, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa members outnumbered the two votes of Sindh and Balochistan members.
At present the demand of Sindh is 180,000 cusecs but as per para 2 full plus 20 per cent loss they would get 131,000 cusecs. Punjab against the demand of 140,000 cusecs will get 120,000 cusecs. The demands of Punjab and Sindh were more than their share. By taking action Tarbela releases reduced to 145,000 cusecs from 150,000 cusecs. Mangla released increased to 45,000 cusecs from 30,000 cusecs.
