LAHORE, Sept 25: The country is likely to face up to 20 per cent water shortage in the Rabi season starting from Oct 1, despite a ‘highly wet season’ this year. According to sources, the technical committee of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) will meet on Wednesday to finalize the shortage figures. Representatives of all the provinces, officials of the Water and Power Development Authority, the Flood Commission and Nespak would also attend the meeting, they said.

They maintained that as per preliminary forecast for Rabi 2005-6 based on river trends and reservoirs’ position, the water availability would fall short by 20 per cent of historic uses in the season.

The chronic shortage problem experienced during the last Rabi season would continue to haunt the country this year as well, they said, adding: “The country faced 44 per cent water shortage during last Rabi season, 13 per cent during 2003-4, 31.3 per cent in 2002-3 and over 50 per cent in 2001-2.”

The shortage means that water share of Punjab and Sindh would be reduced equally, while Balochistan and the NWFP would continue getting their normal share of water during the season, the sources said.

According to Punjab irrigation officials, the province has prepared a tentative plan to minimize adverse impact of water shortage. According to the plan, the department will adjust water supply as per local demands. Wheat sown areas would get preference in the plan, they said.

The irrigation department would announce the final plan after assessment by Irsa about availability of water, they said. But, according to the tentative strategy, Punjab would close non-perennial canals in the cotton zone of Tarbela command from Oct 5 and all perennial channels in cotton zone between Oct 11 and 31.