Islamabad, July 04, 2019 (PPI-OT): Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) called upon Federal Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Chairman IRSA regarding review of the Water Situation in the country, especially, in the wake of water shortages being faced by Sindh Province. She highlighted the heavy shortages of about 40 % in Kotri Canals. Federal Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources briefed the Hon’able Federal Minister about the prevailing water situation and provincial water releases. He said as of today, as per indent of Sindh, 180,000 Cusecs of water is being released from Chashma Barrage to Sindh Province.
He apprised that today at Guddu Barrage about 150,000 Cusecs water is available, which is, as per Irrigation Department Sindh, sufficient to meet with the provincial demand. He also elaborated the abnormality in the temperatures in catchments of all major rivers and hoped that from today situation would be normalized. Chairman IRSA briefed about the Sindh indent and IRSA releases in the system and assured full cooperation for the sowing of Kharif Crops in Sindh Province. He added that conveyance losses of about 61,000 Cusecs from Taunsa to Kotri are disturbing the IRSA Regulation. He also elaborated IRSA mode of water distribution in collaboration with all Provincial Irrigation Departments and IRSA Advisory Committee.
He underlined that lopsided distribution is visible at Sindh Barrages as Guddu is experiencing only 5~7 % shortage while other Sindh Barrages are getting about 20~25 %. Hon’able Federal Minister took note of the excessive losses in the system, lopsided water distribution at Sindh Barrage as well as internal mismanagement in Irrigation System Sindh. She directed Chairman IRSA to take following immediate steps to counter the water shortages in Sindh:-
a) Sindh Share should be increased from 180,000 Cs to 190,000 Cusecs immediately to provide the relief to Sindh Farmers;
b) Chairman IRSA would take concrete steps to ascertain the factual conveyance losses in the system. She also emphasized on Installation of Telemetry System on Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) on war footing basis;
c) As per last year Kharif Season practice, Sindh may immediately call Rangers to control the water theft in its canal system;
d) Sindh Irrigation Department may immediately stop the lopsided water distribution at Sindh Barrages and shortages in the system, if any, may equally be distributed between Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri Barrages.
e) NAB should take notice of the corrupt practices in Irrigation Department Sindh and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA). The meeting ended with vote of thanks.
For more information, contact:
Principal Information Officer,
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323, +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325, +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com
Website: www.pid.gov.pk