9pc water shortage for Kharif likely: Estimates to be finalised on 10th
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, April 5: The country is likely to face about eight to nine per cent shortfall of water during the current Kharif season, mainly owing to 20 per cent lower than normal snowfall and late rise in temperatures on the snowy peaks. This initial assessment of water situation for Kharif season was made at a meeting of the inter-provincial committee that decided to distribute about 71.86 MAF (million acre feet) of available water under clause 14-B of the 1991 water accord, informed sources told this correspondent.
According to initial estimates made by Irsa on the basis of probability studies, about 112 MAF inflows were expected during the coming crop season which may be adequate for the requirements, an official statement said.
The estimates of total water availability for the current Kharif season will be finalized by the advisory committee of the Indus River System Authority in its meeting on April 10.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi presided over the inter-provincial meeting and the irrigation ministers of Sindh, Punjab and the NWFP, irrigation secretary of Balochistan and officials of Irsa, Wapda and Met office attended it.
The meeting also discussed utilization of provincial water shares during Rabi 2,006 but did not agree to a suggestion to roll over unutilized share of any province in Rabi to Kharif to compensate for over-utilization of any other province.
At the meeting, the Sindh irrigation minister alleged that Punjab had utilized more than its share in Rabi. The Punjab irrigation minister denied it and alleged that Sindh had utilized Balochistan’s share.
Mr Jatoi told journalists after the meeting that Irsa had been asked to timely intervene to undo any dereliction on part of any stakeholder.
He said Irsa would be further strengthened to enable it to independently make decisions.
Punjab Irrigation Minister Amir Cheema said the unutilized share of any province in one season could not be carried forward to next season.
Asked why the distribution would not be made on the basis of paragraph-2 of the accord, he said the paragraph became applicable only when 114-MAF of water was available.
Sindh Irrigation Minister Nadir Akmal Leghari said he had demanded that all issues should be resolved in early Kharif and releases less than allocation to a province should be compensated in the next season as had been suggested in the report of the technical committee on water issue, led by A.N.G. Abbasi.
