SUKKUR/HYDERABAD: Irri­gation experts have expressed concern over “unusual” delay in the arrival of 82,000 cusecs the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has released recently for Sindh as the water has not yet reached barrages in the province.

Sources in the irrigation department told Dawn on Wednesday that water shortage rose to 62pc from 52 per cent at barrages despite Irsa’s releasing water a couple of days before.

All canals emanating from Guddu barrage and Rice and Dadu canals of Sukkur barrage had been closed and even water releases into canals for drinking purposes had been suspended due to the shortage, said Abdul Aziz Soomro, in-charge at Sukkur barrage control room.

He said that water inflow at Guddu barrage was recorded at 35,916 cusecs while inflow at Sukkur barrage was 29,465 cusecs out of which 10,200 cusecs had been released. Inflow of water at Kotri barrage was 5,025 cusecs and 100 cusecs was released, he said.

Irsa had released 82,000 cusecs and later given over 9,000 cusecs additional on Sindh’s demand but it had not yet reached the barrages, he said, adding only 1,700 cusecs had reached Guddu barrage so far.

He said that they failed to understand why water was taking such long time to arrive. It did take time for water to reach Sindh from upper regions but this time the delay was unexpected and unusual, he said.

He said that irrigation experts were busy finding out causes behind the delay. “Sindh faces acute shortage of water right now. 100pc water shortage was noticed at Guddu barrage, hence water was not released into its canals,” said the official.

He said that they hoped the situation would improve within three to four days and till May 15 all closed doors of the barrages would be opened to release water for irrigation and drinking purposes.

Meanwhile, growers, farmers, civil society and rights activists and advocates held protest demonstrations in several towns against the nagging water shortage. The protesters demanded the Sindh government provide water for irrigation, especially cotton and other crops.

Mega water supply scheme for Sukkur

Adviser to chief minister on Sukkur affairs Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh said on Wednesday the chief minister had approved a mega water supply and drainage scheme for Sukkur while 45 out of 49 water filtration plants with 65 MGD water capacity had been repaired to meet the drinking water requirement of the city.

He said while briefing media persons about the city’s water woes and the government’s steps to resolve the problem that different areas of the city faced problems in supply of drinking water. Heavy amount of funds was required to repair and reinstall water filtration plants in the city and its adjoining areas, he said.

“The chief minister has granted a scheme for Sukkur,” he said and added that 45 out of 49 water filtration plants had been repaired and made functional which had 65 MGD capacity.

He said that he had asked contractors concerned of the filtration plants to take care of the facilities in an adequate manner, otherwise, legal action would be taken against them. “We are working on mega schemes of water supply and drainage in the city and the schemes will be completed on time,” he said. He said that he was in touch with all departments to work for the betterment of the city and improvement in the standard of urban life.

Growers block road against irrigation water shortage

A large number of growers blocked the Sujawal-Tando Mohammad Khan road on Wednesday against water shortage in their area, which is affecting their Kharif crops.

The protest was also attended by farmers from Bulri Shah Karim and other areas.

Irrigation officials demanded bribe for providing water, alleged the protesters in the lead of Zahid Rind, Syed Sajjad Hyder, Jani Babbar and trader Haji Ismail Memon.

They said irrigation channels of Bulri Shah Karim were facing a severe shortage of water with the result that sowing of Kharif crops was being badly affected and farmers were bearing losses of millions of rupees.

They said that influential growers were using lift machines to draw water illegally for their crops in collusion with irrigation officials, but no one was taking notice of the water theft being committed in broad daylight. They said there was so much shortage that people had to fetch water for their livestock and themselves from other areas.

The protesters said the elected representatives had also turned a blind eye to the paucity of essential commodity.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2022