THIS is with reference to the reports ‘GDA rejects plan to amend Irsa Act, addition of six canals’ (Nov 1) and ‘Raza Rabbani asks Centre to refrain from constructing Cholistan Canal’ (Oct 31). Clearly, a fresh standoff between the Sindh and federal governments is in the making.

Islamabad has issued directives for constructing new canals on the Indus River to transform the barren lands of Cholistan desert and others into fertile lands under the Green Pakistan Initiative to bolster the country’s economy.

There are, mainly, six new canals to be developed in different provinces. However, a serious dissent has been demonstrated by the people of Sindh against such dev-elopments on the Indus River, while underscoring the biasedness of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), which is the regulatory authority for water appo-rtionment among the provinces, and citing other concerns regarding the said project.

Any addition to the existing canals will be a severe blow to the agriculture of Sindh, which has a share of more than 20 per cent in the province’s total gross domestic product (GDP).

This will consequently affect the socio-economic lives of a large number of people in Sindh. Moreover, according to the Sindh government, the federation has conceded that 18 million acres of agricultural land in Sindh remain uncultivated due to a shortage of water.

The federal government has further revealed that only 8.2 million acres of land in Sindh is cultivated compared to more than 30 million acres in Punjab.

Besides, Sindh has been deprived of its due share of water as set under the Water Apportionment Accord (WAA), 1991, for a prolonged period. Any such development will further aggravate the water scarcity in the province, and more water from Sindh’s share will likely be taken away.

In a recent meeting of the Irsa advisory committee, Sindh reiterated its demand for the distribution of provincial waters as per WAA, which establishes that Sindh has to be released a total of 47 million acre feet (MAF) water annually.

Furthermore, it was also highlighted that the current water distribution is according to a three-tier formula based on the historical usage of water by the provinces. For years, the matter has been undecided and sidelined owing to this excuse or that.

Moreover, due to inequitable water distribution policies that prevent water from reaching downstream, 3.5 million acres of agricultural land has been so far eroded by seawater intrusion in Badin and Thatta districts.

The 178km river banks of the Indus from Kotri Barrage to the sea have turned into sand beds, as cen be seen in the accompanying image, and water is only seen there during floods. This has already devastated millions of lives and livelihoods.

In the light of undeniable facts, the federal government should reconsider its decision. Rather than depriving the impo-verished people of their right, it should be adopting a pluralistic approach to address the concerns of all sections of society.

Sameer Alee Areejo
Khairpur Mirs

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024