LAHORE, May 9: Punjab may consider pulling out of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) ‘if it does not stop creating confusion about the availability of water’. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Irrigation Minister Aamer Sultan Cheema said Irsa’s approach was creating bad blood among provinces. “We may consider withdrawing our representative (from Irsa) if it does not change its attitude,” he said.

The provincial minister said the country was facing water shortage but Irsa was busy painting an entirely opposite picture. “This kind of behaviour can create more misgivings among provinces.”

He said Punjab faced up to 30 per cent water shortage till April 30 which badly affected its cotton sowing drive. “On the one hand Irsa is giving less water to Punjab, on the other it is claiming delivering ample water to the province. The province’s canals require some 112,000 cusecs of water but they got only 70,857 cusecs on May 5, 72,130 on 6th, 71,608 on 8th, and 84,169 on 9th,” he pointed out.

According to Irsa, Mr Cheema said, the country would receive 112 million acre feet (MAF) water during the current Kharif season. But, he maintained, it had snowed much less this year than last year and pace of melting was even slower. The meteorological officials have already predicted below-normal rains this year. “Where would the water come from in this situation?” he wondered.

He said that according to Punjab’s calculations the country would not receive more than 83MAF water.

“It is the duty of Irsa to present a true picture to people of Pakistan so that farmers can plan cotton sowing properly,” he warned.