KARACHI: The governments of Sindh and Balochistan have constituted a joint committee comprising secretaries of irrigation from both provinces to study ways and means to resolve their water-related issues and remove encroachments from their common canal systems for smooth supply of irrigation water.

This decision was taken at a meeting held here between the two chief ministers, Syed Murad Ali Shah of Sindh and Sanaullah Zehri of Balochistan.

Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, who specially attended the meeting, raised the interprovincial issues between Sindh and Balochistan on behalf of the Balochistan government. The issues included short supplies of water in Pat Feeder and Khirthar Canal, removal of encroachments from Pat Feeder canal embankments, pumping of drainage effluent into Khirthar Canal, delay in timely completion of RBOD-III projects and inequitable distribution of Hub Dam storage (water) between Sindh and Balochistan.

Besides CM Zehri and former premier Jamali, the Balochistan side was represented by Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, adviser Haji Khan Lehri and MPAs Mir Dostain Khan Domki, Tariq Magsi, Majid Abro, Mir Asim Kurd and Izhar Hussain Khoso. Secretary irrigation Balochistan Saleem Awan was also present.

The Sindh CM, who also holds the portfolio of irrigation minister, responded to the issues raised on behalf of Balochistan. He was assisted by provincial ministers Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Manzoor Wassan, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Jam Mehtab Dahar and secretary irrigation Junaid Memon.

Both CMs agreed to hold another high-level meeting in Quetta in March to review the progress of the decisions taken in Thursday’s meeting.

Regarding the complaint of short supplies at Pat Feeder and Khirthar Canal, the Sindh CM said Balochistan got water mainly through Pat Feeder Canal off-taking from Guddu Barrage and Khirthar Canal of North-Western Canal off-taking from Sukkur Barrage.

Besides that Balochistan is also getting water from Uch which has design discharge of 700 cusecs, and Manuthi Canal, having design discharge of 600 cusecs, off-taking from Desert Canal and from more than 50 direct outlets with design discharge of about 727.55 cusecs.

Mr Shah said there was no complaint or little concern regarding supplies of water from Guddu Barrage and if water supplies from direct outlets might be accounted for in Balochistan’s share, Sindh was supplying more water than the share earmarked in the water accord.

However, he said, it was a fact that there were some complaints of shortage of water in Khirthar Canal from Sukkur Barrage because a pond level had developed at Sukkur Barrage, therefore North-Western Canal and Dadu Canal could not draw their full discharge. As a result, the entire system in Sindh and Balochistan suffered water shortage.

The Sindh chief minister proposed to constitute a two-member committee comprising secretaries of irrigation of both provinces to study the ways and means to solve this issue.

The Balochistan chief minister welcomed the decision and said: “We both are brothers and hope that all issues would be solved amicably.” The Sindh chief minister hosted lunch for the visiting Balochistan delegation and presented them with mementos, ajraks, caps and CDs of Sindhi music.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2017