KARACHI, July 17: “Since Karachi is regarded as ‘mini-Pakistan’ and hosts millions of people from all parts of the country, Sindh will approach the other provinces to seek water from their shares to meet the ever-increasing requirement”.

This was stated by Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo while addressing a press conference in his office after presiding over the 37th meeting of the Indus Flood Commission (IFC) here on Tuesday.

“We have taken up this matter with the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and will raise the issue at other forums at the federal level as well,” he said, adding that the matter could also be taken up with the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

In reply to a question about the reported decision by Irsa regarding supply of water to Islamabad out of the share of four provinces, the minister said that Irsa had the representation from all provinces. “Since Islamabad is our capital, all the provinces should contribute to its water needs,” he argued. “Similar is the case of Karachi, where people from all province live and, therefore, the Sindh government will seek other provinces’ contribution towards the city’s water requirement,” he said.

IFC decisions

According to Mr Dharejo, the IFC meets whenever some important decisions regarding changes in the Indus river system are to be taken. Today, the IFC meeting discussed two cases, one of them being the alteration in the banks of the Indus river at Guddu, where the Wapda is setting up a 747-megawatt power plant with the help of a Chinese company. Wapda wants such changes to be made so that water could be supplied to the power plant. The IFC decided to conduct an environmental impact study of the proposed project before taking a decision in this regard.

The other case discussed, according to him, was the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) request to all stakeholders regarding a gas pipeline to be laid under the Indus banks. “The request was turned down and the SSGC was asked to install the pipeline over the banks,” he said, adding that the laying of the pipeline under the banks could pose a serious threat to the entire system.

He informed the media that the chief engineers and other high-ranking officials as well as irrigation experts were present at the meeting.

‘Flood situation satisfactory’

The irrigation minister said the IFC meeting also reviewed the flood situation and noted with satisfaction that there was no flood threat during the monsoon this year.

The meteorological department has forecast a 10-15 per cent above the normal rains during the monsoon.

“The river discharge position so far is satisfactory and, therefore, there is no threat of floods,” he said.

The irrigation department had already completed many schemes pertaining to the repairing and remodeling of banks of river Indus and canals, he said. “We have raised the level of banks at certain places, besides carrying out stone-pitching to strengthen them,” he said. Mr Dharejo recalled that during the 2010 floods, the water discharge at Guddu and Sukkur barrages had exceeded from their capacity. The Sindh government had now hired consultants through the World Bank who were examining the situation, he said, adding that WB officials had also held meeting with top irrigation officials a few days back. “We are working on a proposed project aimed at increasing the discharge capacity and rehabilitation of Guddu and Sukkur barrages,” he said.

“Sukkur Barrage is 80 years old and we will try to prolong its life to another 50 years as it is part of the most important irrigation system of the province,” he said.

LBOD capacity

The irrigation minister said that the government was also carrying out a study of enhancing the discharge capacity of the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD), that had already devastated a vast area of the province during the previous year’s heavy rainfall.

“The LBOD, which passes through different districts of the province from Nawabshah to Badin, has many faults. It passes from different areas in a zigzag manner, crossing many natural water drains. We plan to separate the LBOD from those drains. During a heavy downpour, water from natural drains finds its way into the LBOD which is of limited capacity and cannot sustain the pressure,” he explained.

Mr Dharejo said the irrigation department had also undertaken desilting of water of the natural drains and now all encroachments over the natural watercourses would be removed. “We would also make legislation to punish encroachers with imprisonment and fines,” he said.

Water shortage

Mr Dharejo told journalists that Sindh faced around 50 per cent shortage of irrigation water up to June 15, mainly owing to low flows in the Indus amid lesser than usual melting of glaciers. However, he added, the irrigation department managed to avert a crisis by ensuring a proper distribution of the available water. “We are sure that Sindh would achieve its cultivation targets despite a shortage of water during the Kharif season,” he said.

Replying to a question about theft of water from the Indus using lift-pumps to irrigate certain areas of Punjab, the minister said such kind of water theft was beyond control as water thieves would switch over to some other methods if lift-pumps were seized or removed.—PPI