THE outlook for irrigation water availability for kharif season in Sindh looks grim as indicated by the reduced water flows. Sindh irrigation officials anticipate that if there is no rainfall in upper reaches, the shortage during peak kharif season will be severe.

The water storage in Tarbela Dam, which feeds three barrages in the province, is fast depleting and, according to the March 5 information of Indus River System Authority, 0.3MAF water was available in the dam.

A Sukkur barrage official also said around 2ft of water is being withdrawn daily from Tarbela, whose current level is 1,398ft against its dead level of 1380ft.

He thinks that by mid-March, Tarbela will start providing run of the river flows for Sindh and water would not be stored in the reservoir considering its increased demand downstream.

With the current storage level in Tarbela, water could be provided for another 8- 10 days to the province. A similar scenario of storage in Mangla dam is presented by Mazhar Ali Shah, Sindh’s member in Indus River System Authority, where 0.3MAF water is available. He pointed out that 14pc water shortage was seen across the province so far on an average against 18pc in winter.

A Sukkur barrage official said around 2ft of water is being withdrawn daily from Tarbela, whose current level is 1,398ft against its dead level of 1,380ft

Within Sindh’s barrages, 40pc water shortage was recorded at Kotri barrage that feeds lands in lower Sindh region for early kharif sowing while 12-18pc shortage was reported at Sukkur barrage until last week of February. It was Guddu barrage where withdrawals remained normal, even slightly above normal occasionally.

As usual, early kharif sowing has started in lower Sindh. With each passing day, the demand for water availability would keep increasing only to force the irrigation authorities to manage water supply by reducing water flows in the main canals. It is Sukkur barrage which serves the largest cultivated area among all three provincial barrages.

During April, the Guddu barrage will be closed for annual maintenance. And Sukkur barrage’s three right bank canals — Dadu, Rice and North Western Canal — will also be closed for desilting in the same month as growers don’t need water for kharif sowing during this period.

This will enable the irrigation department to release water for Sukkur and then Kotri barrage to meet their requirements as best as possible. “If we don’t have this kind of water management, we can’t cater for water needs of Sukkur Barrage with around 8m acres of cultivated area which is always given preference. This leads to severe shortage at Kotri Barrage”, conceded one official.

But, said a Sukkur Barrage official, it is in May when all 14 canals emanating from three barrages would need irrigation water for peak kharif sowing. He feared that in case of low rainfall he didn’t rule out 30-60pc water shortage in different canals.

In some areas of lower Sindh, farmers did not get this last cycle of water for wheat crop.

Sugarcane’s ratoon crop, summer vegetables, dundi cut chilli and cotton may be affected badly in the command area of Kotri Barrage which always has to bear with most of the water shortage. According to Sindh Chamber of Agriculture General Secretary, Nabi Bux Sathio, ratoon crop and vegetables are being severely affected since December for want of the required water. He feared this would worsen further in the days to come.

Cotton is grown in Tando Mohammad Khan, Badin, Thatta and Sujawal districts which are fed by Kotri Barrage. Besides, water shortage in the Indus River System, the lining works in some canals remains incomplete like in Nara canal which feeds the Mirpurkhas district.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, March 13th, 2017