HYDERABAD: A 22pc water shortage has been persisting in Sindh for the last ten days as the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) continues to “equalise shortages between Punjab and Sindh”.

While Sindh has already conveyed its strong reservations over Irsa’s decision, there has been no sign of flexibility in Irsa’s attitude vis-a-viz Sindh’s grievance.

“We are adjusting excessive use [of water] by Sindh and trying to equalise shortages between the two provinces by June 10. Secondly, water position is not satisfactory in rivers. Now with the increase in temperature, it is hoped that we will be able to increase water releases shortly afterwards,” said Irsa Director Operations, Khalid Idrees Rana in reply to a text message sent to him by this reporter.

Irsa spokesman contended Friday that water flows were not satisfactory in rivers (Rim stations) when compared with last year’s flows, but he appeared optimistic about an improvement, considering rise in temperature lately.

Mr Rana was alluding to the flows used over and above Sindh’s indent. The latter had sent a communication to Irsa on April 30 to question its decision of shortage equalisation. Irsa was requested that adjustments should be made to the “Irsa water account” for Sindh for the second and third ten dailies, keeping in view a shared tentative plan for Kharif 2026 given that the quantum utilised was well beyond the province’s indent.

Sindh irrigation director regulation at Karachi had sent the April 30 communication to contend that due to unseasonal downpours, Kabul River at Nowshera recorded inflows 115pc higher than anticipated during the first ten daily of April 2026. Furthermore, significant events caused an unusual surge in the Indus River system that sustained for 10-12 days which was explicitly visible in the reported data.

He said that although the surplus water that exceeded the indent proposed by Sindh was withdrawn in the irrigation commands of Kotri downstream and these withdrawals have passed in excess of indent during the second and third ten dailies of April and were only attributable to this fact.

It has been Sindh’s position that the flows supplied to it on account of rainfall in the river system should not be deducted from its provincial share under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord. In an identical scenario, such flows were utilised as ‘flood flows’ by Punjab and Sindh alike in 2024.

These flows were accordingly adjusted by Irsa instead of being deducted against the share of each province, according to one official.

According to Mr Rana, Irsa is yet to decide this representation of Sindh. He pointed out that “except River Kabul which is slightly comparable with last year, the rest of rivers are significantly flowing on the lower side”.

He referred to the inflows / outflows recorded on May 28, 2026 with corresponding period. He mentioned that these flows were considerably low on May 28 this year. For instance, Tarbela had an inflow of 181,100 cusecs on May 28, 2025 against outflow of 155,000 cusecs. On May 28 this year, it had 63,400 cusecs inflow against outflow of 90,000 cusecs (from dam’s storages).

Likewise, Mangla dam had an inflow of 54,000 cusecs against same outflow cusecs but this year it had inflow of 19,000 cusecs with same outflow on May 28. Kabul River had an in and outflow of 42,100 cusecs when compared with May 28’s an inflow and outflow of 39,800 cusecs this year. This year’s cumulative inflows, he explained, stood at 160,900 cusecs against last year’s 317,700 cusecs on May 28 which was substantially on the lower side.

Sindh province is primarily dependent on outflows from Tarbela Dam for feeding its irrigation landscape through its three main barrages. Any drop in the dam’s inflows and subsequent reduction downstream leads to a serious water shortage as is being seen.

In such a scenario, Sindh’s farming community also expresses concern that while inflows dropped considerably the two main link canals i.e. Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad continued to draw plenty of water. Till May 29, Sindh irrigation figures of water flows suggested that CJ link canal was drawing 11,500 cusecs and TP link canal 10,437 cusecs.

Guddu recorded 42pc water shortage, followed by Sukkur’s 11pc and Kotri Barrage’s 29pc. The overall shortage was calculated at 22pc in the province. Sindh had a withdrawal of 62,953 cusecs in its canals against the share of 80,640 cusecs mentioned in Water Accord 1991.

Sukkur Barrage’s right bank canals have started receiving only nominal flows as rice sowing the canals’ command has started. Rice canal had withdrawn 4,300 cusecs, Dadu Canal 1,500 cusecs and North Western Canal 3,000 cusecs. Withdrawals in the barrage’s two main left bank canals also indicate shortage with Nara recording 3pc and Rohri 7pc. Khairpur West is witnessing 26pc shortage and Khairpur East 13pc.

Similarly, Kotri barrage’s Pinyari canal (old Phulelli) recorded the highest number of shortages — 40pc, followed by 36pc each in Akram Wah and New Phulelli. Only Kalri Baghar has surplus flow as the canal mainly meets drinking water needs of Karachi. Against an accord-based share of 4,410 cusecs, it has withdrawn 4,915 cusecs.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026