Sindh and Punjab governments are at loggerheads over distribution of Indus water and Sindh government has alleged that Punjab is holding Indus River System Authority (IRSA) hostage.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) accused Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) of theft of 30,000 cusec of water from Indus River. PPP claimed that after the onset of PML-N government in the centre, the flow of water at downstream of Kotri Barrage was recorded at minimum.
The party claimed that if the situation did not change and Punjab continued to “steal” water from Indus then farmers of Badin and Thatta would be affected badly. PPP feared that the areas at Indus Delta would face a drought-like situation and would not get fresh water for drinking.
PPP General Secretary Sindh Taj Haider alleged that over the theft of more than 30,000 cusecs of Sindh’s waters from Indus between Chashma and Taunsa barrages had been happening since May 30.
“The theft of Sindh’s legitimate resources of electricity and water had started right after the completion of PPP-led government’s term of office,” he claimed.
He said that already there had been a big shortage of irrigation water in the tail-end areas of Sindh canals.
Farmers of Badin and Thatta districts have been severely hit by the shortage of water, he said, adding that the zero flows of water downstream of Kotri Barrage at present would result in serious consequences for the Indus delta, where people and their cattle would face drought-like conditions and would not even have fresh water for drinking.
He said that this theft of Sindh’s waters could go on without the support of Punjab Irrigation Department. IRSA had been bound to closely monitor flow in rivers and to ensure that all provinces get their legal share of water but silence of authority over this issue raised concerns for Sindh, he said.