ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Wednesday estimated about 17 per cent water shortage during Rabi, and Sindh demanded ‘full’ implementation of the 1991 Water Accord for the cropping season that runs between Oct 1 and March 31.
The technical committee of Irsa that finalized estimates for water availability, however, decided to leave the question of water distribution to the advisory committee’s meeting next week following submission of water withdrawal plans by provinces.
Irsa spokesman Mohammad Khalid Idrees Rana told reporters that the difference in case of distribution of water under para-2 of the accord and under ministerial decision of 1994 was minimal in Rabi season. He said a decision on the subject would be made by Irsa’s advisory committee meeting likely to be held in the first week of October.
Under the ministerial decision, water distribution in case of shortage is made on the basis of historic annual average uses (1977-82), a situation that favours Punjab. On the other hand, para-2 of the 1991 accord envisages distribution of provincial shares on the basis of well-defined quantities.
A Sindh government official said that the province had demanded distribution of water on the basis of para-2 of the water accord and added that they had also handed over a demand letter to Irsa chairman.
The technical committee meeting, presided over by the Irsa chairman, was attended by all Irsa members and representatives of Wapda, irrigation department, Punjab, Sindh and NWFP.
Mr Rana said the anticipated water availability as agreed to by the technical committee shall be presented before the advisory committee. He said the total water availability was assessed by the technical committee at 31 million acre feet (MAF) for Rabi 2005-06, though figures presented by Punjab, Sindh and Wapda were slightly different. Water requirement, according to tentative provincial plans, was estimated at 34.67MAF. Water availability in Rabi as envisaged in water accord is about 37MAF.
He said Punjab and Sindh were asked to submit their withdrawal plans as per estimated availability. Irsa had also stressed that conservation of water shall remain utmost priority by adopting a cautious approach so that the available water could be used efficiently and effectively. The spokesman said the Rabi season would start with carryover storage of 10.38MAF. The upcoming shortage for Rabi at 17 per cent is comparatively lower than 39 per cent shortage last year and about 49 per cent shortage recorded during the same season in 2003-04.
