HYDERABAD: Water crisis in Sindh and Balochistan continues to deepen with each passing day as the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) remains indifferent to their hue and cry constantly being raised over the last few weeks.
The two smaller provinces have been expressing their strong reservations over “unfair” deduction in their share of the Indus water while Punjab continues to draw in excess of its allocated quantum.
Kotri Barrage reported 57pc reduction in flows on June 7 as Sindh’s overall deficit in flows rose from 22pc to 39pc within the last fortnight while Punjab, through its controversial Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) link canal keeps withdrawing more water than Kotri.
Balochistan has also come up with 71pc reduction in its share from Sukkur Barrage’s right bank canal on Saturday.
Shortage in Sindh worsens to 39pc while Balochistan gets 71pc less flows
The Balochistan irrigation department has taken up the issue with Irsa, pressing it to settle it with Sindh authorities in order to ensure its required share of 2,000 cusecs at GarangRegulator of North Western Canal (NWC). Balochistan is receiving just 571 cusecs, indicating 71pc lesser flows than its allocated share.
Controversial move
Irsa had recently announced that it was “adjusting excessive use of water by Sindh and trying to equalise shortages between Punjab and Sindh by June 10”. Sindh has strongly opposed the move but the issue has remained undecided in Irsa till date.
Sindh argues that the “flows supplied to Sindh on account of rainfall in the river system should not be deducted from its provincial share under the Water Accord 1991.
