Qabool Mohammad Khatian has slammed the high-ups of IRSA for allegedly reducing the irrigation water flows of Sindh's shares and demanded the removal of the chairman of the federal body.
Raees Qabool Moammad Khatian, the Chairman of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) has held the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) responsible for the severe water crisis in Sindh and demanded the removal of the IRSA Chairman.
In a statement issued to media persons here on Thursday, SIDA Chairman Mr Khatian said that due to the mismanagement of IRSA authorities, Sindh was acing a 45% water shortage. He further stated that despite the ongoing rice cultivation season, IRSA was depriving Sindh of its due share of irrigation water, which according to him, was a grave injustice. The SIDA Chairman said that at the beginning of the Kharif season, there were 4 million acre-feet (MAF) of water stored in the dams, which was a substantial reserve compared to normal conditions. However, instead of supplying water to Sindh, IRSA authorities adopted a flawed strategy by retaining water in the dams. As a result, farmers in Sindh have not even been able to sow rice nurseries.
Qabool Mohammad Khatian stated that the rainfall at the end of April should have improved the water availability situation, but due to the incompetence and mismanagement of IRSA authorities, Sindh's agricultural economy was heading toward collapse.
He said that despite the Kharif season being in progress, water was being stored in the dams instead of being supplied to Sindh, while the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad flood canals were being operated to divert water towards the Jhelum-Chenab region. He further alleged that the water crisis in Sindh had been deliberately created by IRSA and that the system was being operated on the basis of a majority decision at a time when the seat of Balochistan's nominated representative remained vacant due to the rejection of its nominee, while Sindh's member had been hospitalized for medical treatment. He said that IRSA's position was based on the forecast that Mangla Dam might not reach its maximum conservation level, whereas Tarbela Dam was expected to fill up.
“On this basis, IRSA authorities are retaining water in Mangla and reducing Tarbela's storage by transferring water to the command areas of the eastern rivers, while Sindh is being provided 48% less water than its share despite the peak cultivation season” Mr Khatian lamented.
The SIDA Chairman said that such treatment of Sindh was being justified merely on the basis of rainfall forecasts, even though accurate weather predictions could not reliably be made for more than ten days. He added that Sindh's share of water was being usurped, and even the rainwater released into Sindh during April was being counted as Sindh's allocated share, despite the fact that this water was supplied without any indent and in excess of the quantity allocated under the Water Accord. The SIDA Chairman said that the majority of Sindh's irrigated agricultural land was designated for rice cultivation, with the rice transplantation period in the Kotri Barrage command area running from 1st June to 15th June. “In the right bank command area of Sukkur Barrage, there is an additional lag period of around ten days before water reaches the fields” he added.
He further stated that the purpose of dams was to store surplus water and make it available when needed, but IRSA authorities were acting contrary to that principle. As a result, crops in Sindh could not be cultivated properly, creating the risk of affecting exports worth approximately US$4.5 billion. This would cause significant damage to the national economy and could also lead to food shortages in the country. Mr Khatian demanded that the IRSA Chairman and all responsible officials be removed and replaced with impartial and competent officers capable of formulating an effective strategy to save Sindh's agricultural economy from the 'imminent' collapse.