ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: With improved storage in reservoirs after recent rains, the Indus River System Authority scaled down on Tuesday its water shortage estimates for Rabi crop from 19 per cent to 17.

A meeting of the advisory committee presided over by Irsa Chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah rejected Balochistan’s demand for 200,000 cusecs of extra share to compensate for its Kharif losses it suffered because of canal closure during rains and flood.

The meeting decided that shortages would be shared by two larger provinces, Sindh and Punjab, while Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be exempted because of their infrastructure constraints.

Sources said Sindh and Punjab unanimously opposed the request from Balochistan for 0.4 million acre feet (200,000 cusecs) of extra water during the Rabi season, saying it was not possible for them to spare more water quantities when they themselves were facing 17 per cent shortage.

Balochistan said it did not get its full water share during Kharif in the earlier part of the season, resulting in reduced sowing. Its farming community suffered a double jeopardy because of floods at the end of the season.

The sources said Irsa had earlier estimated 19 per cent shortage that was reduced to 17 per cent as a result of improved storage.