KARACHI: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Fazulur Rehman said on Monday that water shortage in the country necessitates a coherent and judicious distribution of water in Karachi.
Fazulur Rehman made the comments while presiding over a meeting on Irrigation department at the Chief Minister’s House. Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Aijaz Ali Khan, Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah and Special Secretary Irrigation Aslam Saryo also participated in the meeting.
The caretaker CM was informed by Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah that there was a 42 per cent water shortage in the country and that Sindh was receiving only 36,450 cusecs of water against the allotted share of 106,300 during the khareef season.
Data on withdrawal of water was also detailed – 7,600 cusecs from Guddu Barrage, 3,555 from Desert Pat Feeder and 4,045 from Ghotki Feeder. Likewise, Sukkur barrage provides 22,715 cusecs of water to canals, 1,000 for Rice Canal, 8,100 for Nara Canal, 1800 for North Western Canal, 1,140 for Khairpur Feeder East, 8,100 for Rohri Canal and 900 cusecs for Khairpur Feeder West.
New Fuleli barrage’s withdrawal stood at 1,885 cusecs, 640 for Akram Wah, 2,240 for Kalri Baghar, 6,135 for Kotri barrage and 1,370 cusecs for Pinyari.
The secretary irrigation was directed by the caretaker chief minister to resolve water shortage at Badin and similar tail-end areas by releasing water where possible.
Water levels at Keenjhar lake must also be maintained at required levels to ensure consistent water provision to Karachi, said Fazulur Rehman to which Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon informed that he was personally monitoring release of water for the city.
Keenjhar lake’s current levels are sufficient to provide 1200 cusecs of water to Karachi, said Special secretary Aslam Ansari.
Temperatures in Skardu have increased and the availability of water in the country would begin improving from June 7 after glaciers start melting, according to Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah.
