Sindh’s Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro called upon Islamabad on Thursday to ensure continuous water supply to the province, emphasizing the importance of adequate water for crop production.
Addressing the issue, Minister Shoro said there is a disparity with the federal authorities regarding water scarcity in Sindh. He noted that while the Nara and Rohri canals receive 7,200 cusecs of water, other canals face up to a 70% shortage.
To address the situation, the government is implementing a rotation program to guarantee the supply of water for crops and drinking purposes. Additionally, plans are underway to manage rainwater drainage from the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD), Dhoro Puran Outfall Drain (DPOD), and Hakro drain.
Minister Shoro revealed that a major gate will be installed at RD 210 as part of the drainage scheme, and reports have been requested from the relevant deputy commissioners overseeing these drains. He directed the Deputy Commissioner of Mirpurkhas to take action against encroachments along Dhoro and Puran drains.
The previous day, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) instructed the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to release water from the Tarbela Dam beyond the storage level of 1,420 feet. However, this move could potentially disrupt the sowing of key Kharif crops, such as cotton and rice, in Sindh.
Sindh urgently requires water releases from the Tarbela Dam during the early Kharif period, from April 1 to June 10. Any shortfall in water supply could impact cotton crop production, potentially leading to significant economic losses.
During an IRSA technical committee meeting, Sindh expressed concerns over Wapda’s delayed tunnel projects and urged for maximum water releases from the Tarbela reservoir through low-level outlets to facilitate timely sowing of crops.
Minister Shoro emphasized the importance of adhering to the water accord and distributing any water shortage equitably among all provinces. He reiterated Sindh’s need for maximum water releases during the early Kharif period to avoid substantial losses in crop production. The matter is set to be discussed further during the advisory committee meeting on April 2.
