ISLAMABAD - The Indus River System Authority on Friday asked Sindh to ensure provision of Balochistan's share of water immediately, and warned of law and order situation as Baloch farmers had started agitating against water shortage in the province.
"The farmers community is agitating in Balochistan province and are announcing [staging] strikes, dharnas and roadblocks on non-availability of water, which may create law and order situation in the province," said Irsa Chairman Sherzaman Khan, in a letter dated February 2, 2018, to Sindh Irrigation Secretary Jamal Mustafa Syed.
“Despite forwarding the complaints of Balochistan province to Irrigation Department Sindh vide different letters written in January and February 2018, no tangible improvement is visible in the system,” the Irsa chairman said.
Following repeated complaints from Balochistan against Sindh for stealing its share of water, the Irsa has several time intervened but failed to provide the full share of water to Balochistan.
“I am to bring the issue of short supplies in Balochistan Canal System to your kind notice and am of the considered opinion that you will leave no stone unturned, while resolving the complaint of Balochistan," Sherzaman Khan said.
The Irsa chairman said that since the beginning of the annual canal closure both the canal systems of Balochistan province, Pat Feeder and Kirther canals were suffering from severe shortages of water.
Despite forwarding the complaints of Balochistan province to irrigation department vide different letters written in January and February 2018 no tangible improvement is visible in the system, he maintained.
The chairman recalled that the Irsa was releasing waters for Sindh and Balochistan provinces even more than their indents to encompass conveyance losses.
The farmers community is agitating in Balochistan province and are announcing strikes, dharnas and road blocks on non-availability of water, which may create law and order situation in the province, he said.
The Irsa will appreciate your personal intervention for resolving the issue and for issuance of strict directions to all field/concerned staff for provision of legitimate irrigation supplies to Balochistan province as per the Irsa authorization without any delay, Sherzaman Khan said.
According to Balochistan, the province is already getting less water from its intends but the Sindh’s stealing of its share has further aggravated the water availability situation in the province.
According to the province’s stance since 1991 to 2014, Balochistan got almost 50 per cent less water than its demand that resulted in losses of around Rs93 billion to the province.
Due to water shortage in both the canals, it is feared that hundreds of thousands acres of land will remain barren after not receiving water for irrigation.
The land located in the Pat Feeder and Kirther Command area is facing water shortage.
As the crises become severe, Balochistan Assembly passed a resolution asking the provincial government to take appropriate measures to resolve the water crisis.
Since Sindh control the water flow to the province, therefore Balochistan has levelled allegations of stealing of water against Sindh.
The provincial government has lodged complaints several times against Sindh for not providing its share but until now the regulatory body has failed to address the grievance of Balochistan.