ISLAMABD, Oct 9: The advisory committee of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Saturday projected a 48 per cent water shortage during the Rabi season and consequently cut the share of water of Punjab and Sindh by the same percentage.
Balochistan and NWFP would, however, continue to get their normal share.
Officials said the projection was based on water availability and utilisation figures of 1977-82, commonly known as historic use basis.
Irsa chairman Rahim Khan Zarkun told reporters that the water shortage and availability figures would be reviewed by the advisory committee on Nov 1 to revise projections depending on the improvement, or otherwise, in river flows.
Mr Zarkun said the earlier projection of 56 per cent water shortage was made on the basis of 100 per cent drought situation. Now the projections have been made on the basis of five years of drought and five wet seasons, he explained.
Rana Khalid, the newly-appointed spokesman for Irsa, said the provinces had been asked to submit their indents within a week's time so that provincial shares could be fixed accordingly on the basis of 48 per cent shortage to Sindh and the Punjab.
He said that Wapda authorities would be advised next week about water releases on the basis of provincial indents so that they could plan much needed hydel power generation accordingly.
The Punjab irrigation authorities presented a shortage estimate of 56 per cent on the basis of 100 per cent drought and demanded distribution of shortages on that basis.
Sindh irrigation authorities presented a shortage estimate of 37 per cent and demanded that shortages should be distributed on the basis of para 2 of the 1991 water accord and should be shared evenly by all provinces.
The demand was, however, rejected on the ground that it was not part of the agenda. At this, the Sindh officials insisted that their views should be made part of the record that they have stood by their longstanding demand on sharing of water shortages on the basis of para 2 of the accord.
He said that Wapda had estimated a 45 per cent shortage for the season. The Irsa had estimated 48 per cent shortage which was agreed to by all participants with consensus, said Mr Rana.
Informed sources said Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi and Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Maqam remained in contact with the particticipants of the meeting to finalise Rabi Water Distribution Plan with consensus.
According to sources the internal working of Irsa suggested that the shortage was most likely to reduce when availability figures are revised in November.
