March, 28 2005	Monday	17 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 27: The technical committee of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) meets here on Monday to finalize the water distribution and management plan for the Kharif season, which begins on April 1. Sources told Dawn on Sunday that water distribution among the provinces would be made on the basis of paragraph 2 of the 1991 water apportionment accord after a gap of five years.

During the last four years, water distribution took place on the basis of clause 14(b) of the accord as a result of shortage. Under the clause, water distribution should be made on the basis of historic average annual uses of 1977-82 in case of shortage.

Since there would be no shortage in the coming season, the shares of Punjab and Sindh would be 37.07 million acre-feet and 33.94MAF, respectively, under paragraph 2 of the accord.

The Irsa technical committee is normally led by its chief engineer. However, since the post of chief engineer has been vacant for more than six months, Irsa Chairman Aman Gul Khattak will preside over the meeting.

The sources said Irsa had circulated a draft water distribution plan for the Kharif season among the provinces, which suggested that there would be no shortage of water.

Representatives of the provincial irrigation departments and the chief engineering advisor and regulation director of the Water and Power Development Authority will attend the meeting.

The sources said the Irsa advisory committee was expected to meet in the first week of April to approve the technical committee’s recommendations.

They said water release from the Mangla Dam had been increased significantly to maintain a low storage level for enabling Wapda to continue construction there.

They said Wapda had been directed to arrange a meeting of Irsa members and provincial representatives at Mangla on April 5 and brief them about the progress of the project.