CCI to discuss water challenges, distribution dispute in next meeting | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

CCI to discuss water challenges, distribution dispute in next meeting

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The country’s water challenges including water distribution dispute between provinces are to be discussed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in its next meeting.

This was hinted at a meeting of Senate Special Committee on Water Scarcity headed by Senator Moula Bux Chandio. The committee discussed current water scarcity issues and its impact on agriculture in detail.

Secretary Water Resources, Shamail Ahmad Khawaja and Joint Secretary Water Resources/ Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner , Mehar Ali Shah gave a detailed presentation about water distribution issues, hydropower projects and water projects and proposed the way forward to resolve these issues.

Shamail Khawaja informed the committee that “water challenges “are on the agenda of forthcoming meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) to be presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He briefed the committee that inflows in rivers are 137 MAF per annum. Pakistan has storage capacity of 10.37 MAF of water in its reservoirs which is sufficient for 30 or 36 days whereas India can store water for 320 days.

According to the new National Water Policy approved by the former government, provinces agreed to build new reservoirs of 10 MAF by 2030, with Rs 26 billion earmarked for three water reservoirs, Khawaja said, adding that it’s a tragedy that investment of billions of dollars in the water sector during the last 15-20 years did not deliver 5 per cent of its objective. He further stated that 90 to 95 per cent water is released to provinces through canals and subsequently to distributaries in which 50 per cent of water is wasted.

He cited the example of Darawat Dam in Sindh, Gomal Zam Dam and Kachhi Canal, main purpose of which were to irrigate around a million of acres of land but these projects are yet to be completed despite passage of years and spending billions of rupees.

He said Darawat Dam is meant to irrigate 25,000 acres of land, Gomal Zam Dam 166,000 acres and Kachi canal 0.7 million acres, adding that provinces spend minimal amounts on remaining portions of the projects which have the potential of changing the destiny of their people without any bilateral conflict and in a short span of time.

Construction of the dams was the responsibility of the federal government whereas provinces were tasked to construct command areas (water distribution networks etc) but this could not happen due to lack of coordination between Centre and Provinces.

In reply to a question, Secretary Water Resources said that he has imposed moratorium on new water schemes for the last six months until provincial governments and federal government agree on a joint PC-I.

“We will submit our proposal in the CCI, that water sector projects should be prepared and executed both by the Centre and Provinces in consultation with each other,” he added.

Secretary Water Resources further informed the committee that when he visited Sindh, he was told that the design of Rainy Canal is not up to the mark.

He further stated that Pakistan is wasting 50 per cent water in canals and water distribution system and if Pakistan saves 30 per cent of the wasted water, it will be equal to reservoir capacity of one and a half Tarbela dam.

“We have to regulate water to meet irrigation and downstream Kotri needs as two million acres of land has been destroyed in Thatha, Sajawal and Badin. Para 14 and Para 8 need to be debates,” he said, adding that it’s an issue of one MAF or two MAF which should be resolved without considering which province will benefit.

He said all Irsa members have different but honest opinions on water distribution mechanism. However, the Accord allows the aggrieved party (province) to take up the issue at the level of CCI.

When Chairman Special Committee enquired if the committee can take up this issue with the CCI Chairman Irsa Sher Zaman Khan replied that the province which has reservations on the decisions of the Authority has the option to challenge them at the CCI forum. He, however, said that members of new CCI have not yet been notified.

Secretary Water Resources said he is also considering bringing the issue of water distribution controversy at the CCI.

Senator Sassui Palijo said that recently Sindh faced severe water shortage due to which a few Districts have been declared drought hit areas. She argued that Sindh did not get its share of water as per the Accord as Irsa released water to CJ link canal despite reservations of Sindh. The agriculture of Sindh is severely impacted, she added.

Palijo also criticised Member Irsa (Sindh), Syed Mazhar Ali Shah for not safeguarding the interests of the province at Irsa, asking him to resign if he is unable to do anything for the province. Chairman of Special Committee Moula Bux Chandio said that it appears that Member Sindh has surrendered his authority. He further stated that when required water was not released to Sindh therefore the question of wastage of water downstream Kotri does not arise. He said Accord is not being implemented in letter and spirit. The committee also discussed distribution of water in accordance with Para two of the Accord 1991.

Shah was visibly upset when he was criticized by the Senators from his province and he replied that he has persisted in raising objections, written dissenting notes and reported to Secretary Irrigation Sindh.

“I am alone at the Irsa Authority against other members and decisions are taken with a majority,” he argued. He said two provinces are exempted from shortages whereas Sindh is being treated differently.

The representatives of Irsa said that Sindh is being given its due share of water as per the Accord 1991 and on September 6, Sindh received 130,000 cusecs.

Shah further stated that he has requested Secretary Irrigation Sindh to take up this issue at the forum of CCI which is being taken up in the next meeting.

Member KPK, Raqib Khan stunned the committee by stating that the gauges installed by Sindh government are faulty due to which the quantity of water is not measured accurately at the barrages. Senator Moula Bux Chandio and Senator Sassui Palijo acknowledged that there is need for improvement in gauging and distributing water in the province.

In reply to question as to why India has been allowed to inspect Kotri barrage, Secretary Water Resources explained that India did not allow Pakistan to visit new dams in Held Kashmir since 2014, adding that recently India has agreed to allow Pakistani team led by Indus Water Commissioner to visit six disputed project sites at Chenab Basin by the end of current month which is a significant strategic success for Pakistan; in return India requested inspection of Kotri barrage.

Senator Moulana Abdul Ghaffoor Haideri raised questions about approved share of Balochistan, current releases and use of its remaining water by other provinces. He, however, did not get a satisfactory reply from any government functionary.

The committee directed Secretary Water Resources to submit a detailed progress report on Diamar Bhasha dam, Gomal Zam Dam, Kachhi canal and Miran dam.

In reply to a question, Secretary Water Resources said that a committee has been constituted to investigate reasons for the premature launch of Tarbela IV which allegedly has caused Rs 25 billion financial loss to national exchequer.

Senator Dr Ghaus Bux Khan Niazi, Senator Brig John Kenneth Williams (retired), Senator Muhammad Akram and Senator Azam Khan Swati attended the meeting.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

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