HYDERABAD: The province of Sindh, which has been deprived of water, has finally got adequate water flows due to recent spells of monsoon rains in the province and upper reaches, forcing irrigation authorities to either close water flows or reduce them in different main canals of the barrages, said the officials of different barrages.

Guddu Barrage would shortly attain ‘low level floods’ level status in next 48-72 hours, and even Kotri Barrage downstream — that were only seen in flood season - have increased also when compared with water situation experienced in April-May period this year.

A look at current water flows indicated that Guddu Barrage was having 216,294 cusecs flows upstream and downstream flows of 196,984 cusecs at 6pm on Sunday. A flow of 200,000 cusecs is considered low flood level at any barrage.

“Guddu Barrage will attain low flood level soon,” said Sukkur Barrage official Aziz Soomro.

Likewise, Sukkur Barrage was having 148,200 cusecs upstream and 125,050 cusecs downstream this evening. Kotri Barrage was having a flow of 99,375 cusecs and 88,550 cusecs downstream. Farmlands fed by Kotri Barrage were brought under paddy cultivation. Water shortage had been a problem for growers here, but rains have rescued paddy growers and water situation had also improved in the system.

Flows at Punjab’s Taunsa Barrage downstream head for Sindh’s Guddu Barrage after joining downstream flows at Panjnad Barrage — had reported 322,517 cusecs upstream and 315,217 cusecs downstream flows.

“Given present river flows conditions, we anticipate that Guddu Barrage will have a discharge of 275,000 cusecs in next 48-72 hours,” said Soomro.

Panjnad Barrage downstream flows of 32,288 cusecs would join flows at Taunsa Barrage. These flows would then reach Guddu, he said and added that Taunsa was getting water flows triggered by rainfall in Koh-i-Suleman range.

Only a couple of months back, Guddu Barrage had reported 90pc shortage in April-May as well due to highly inadequate poor flows of water in Indus river system, leading to acrimony between Sindh and Punjab over interprovincial water distribution and missing flows at Taunsa downstream. One of the right side canals of Guddu Barrage, Pat Feeder, also supplies water to Balochistan. Balochistan had also been complaining about non-availability of flows from Sindh as per their share under Water Accord.

In view of improved water flows in the system, the flows at Kotri Barrage now would also increase. The barrage might get around 150,000 cusecs upstream in next few days.

“Flows are also being released downstream Kotri Barrage,” said Haji Khan Jamali, Kotri Barrage chief engineer. Downstream flows at Kotri Barrage were only seen during flood season.

The barrage had been experiencing 70pc to 75pc irrigation water shortage until mid-May. The recent monsoon rains that had been reported almost across Sindh had forced irrigation authorities to close water flows or reduce levels in major canals. Sukkur Barrage’s canals, including Khairpur Feeder East and West, were closed. Rohri canal of was also closed.

Flows in Nara canal of Sukkur Barrage had been cut and likewise Rice’s water levels have been lowered. Right bank Rice canal was having 7,400 cusecs of flows on Sunday against 10,000 plus flows on Saturday. Canals like Nara and Rohri — considered longest in Sindh — feed left bank areas for cultivation of sugarcane, cotton, banana, mango orchards and wheat.

Similarly, Kirthar Canal (a second name of North Western Canal of Sukkur Barrage on right side of the barrage) was having reduced water flows now. It was having 6,500 cusecs flows on July 24 against 8,800 cusecs on July 23. Water storage in Tarbela Dam was improving as well. The storage level in the dam that serves as major source of water supply in Indus River stood at 1,507.19ft against its maximum storage of 1,550ft.

“Other than few specific areas, rains have been beneficial,” reacted Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) vice president Mahmood Nawaz Shah.

According to his assessment in the wake of recent rainfall in Sindh, of major Kharif crops, cotton was most vulnerable. “Current picking will be effected if rains stay around 70mm to 80mm,” he said.

He added that if weather improves, cotton will survive. He also discussed cotton crop’s price offered to growers who had been blaming cotton ginning factory owners for intentionally offering lower cotton crop rates to farmers.

“Price of cotton has been artificially brought down to Rs4,500 from Rs9,600 even though recent massive devaluation should have resulted in increase in price,” he said.

The ongoing water flows availability, he explained, would facilitate paddy sowing although these were belated flows. He said that onion sowing season was severely affected in Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas districts.

“Current rise in availability of water flows to 300,000 cusecs plus post Taunsa would help in sustaining delta, refresh aquifer and improve environment,” he said.

Even Balochistan irrigation department has asked Sukkur Barrage authorities to reduce its flows in North Western Canal from currently 1,860 cusecs to 1,000 cusecs due to on-going spell of monsoon rains there. In addition to Pat Feeder, Balochistan gets water flows from North Western (Kirthar Canal) RD-102 through Garang regulator.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2022