DADU: Discharge of water into Kalri-Baghar fee­der was increased to 2,730 cusec from 1,850 cusec on Monday to meet water requ­ire­ments of Karachi, according to an official posted at Kotri Barrage.

Assistant engineer Tariq Asad Ursani told Dawn on Monday that water release into the feeder had been raised to 1,850 cusec a day on Sunday so that it was stored in Keenjhar Lake for onward supply to Karachi, during closure period of canals that originated from Kotri Bar­rage. The 15-day closure would start from Dec 25, he said.

He said that water release into the feeder was increased to 2,730 cusec after closing old Phuleli Canal known as Pinyari and new Phuleli Canal. Old Phuleli was flowing with 460 cusec and new Phuleli with 380 cusec to meet drinking needs of the population living along the canals’ banks, he said.

He said that 231 cusec on an average were released downstream Kotri Barrage in July, 1,584 cusec were released in August and 2,836 cusec in September 2018, which totalled 1.74 MAF released this year so far.

He said that water had not been released downstream Kotri Barrage since Sept 13, leading to serious water shortages in the areas downstream of the barrage. At present, water level at upstream Kotri Barrage was 3,858 cusec, he said.

Superintendent engineer of Baghar circle Pritam Das said that water level at upstream of Guddu Barrage was 42,336 cusec and 35,751 cusec at downstream. It was 33,100 cusec at upstream of Sukkur Barrage and 6,000 cusec at downstream, he said.

He said that water level at upstream Kotri Barrage was steadily rising after 6,000 cusec was released downstream Sukkur Barrage eight days back.

Ashfaq Ahmed Memon, special assistant to Sindh chief minister for irrigation, said that there was 40 per cent shortage of water in the province this year and last year, the shortage stood at 34pc.

He said the situation had worsened over 16 years in the province. At present, water level in Keenjhar Lake was 52.25 RL (reduced level) which was to be maintained at 53 RL up till Dec 25 through increase in KB feeder flows so that water supply to Karachi could continue uninterruptedly.

Nawab Zubair Ahmad Talpur, president of Sindh Abadgar Ittehad, said that situation at Kotri Barrage downstream was alarming. Indus River System Autho­rity was to release 10 MAF a year downstream Kotri Barr­age according to the 1991 water accord to keep seawater in check but it was not done, he said.

He had visited Indus delta in Kharo­chhan where he observed that seawater had reached up to Jan Moh­ammad Jat village whi­ch was 55km from the sea some five to six years back, he said.

He said that 20,000 to 30,000 cusec was “stolen” eve­ry year due to failure of telemetry system at barrages while flood canals, Chashma and Jhelum link canals and Taunsa Panjnad canals were running round the clock in every season, dealing serious blow to Sindh’s share in water.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018