Sindh, Balochistan cry foul as Irsa keeps mum over deepening water crisis

HYDERABAD: Water crisis in Sindh and Balochistan continues to deepen with each passing day as the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) remains indifferent to their hue and cry constantly being raised over the last few weeks.

The two smaller provinces have been expressing their strong reservations over “unfair” deduction in their share of the Indus water while Punjab continues to draw in excess of its allocated quantum.

Kotri Barrage reported 57pc reduction in flows on June 7 as Sindh’s overall deficit in flows rose from 22pc to 39pc within the last fortnight while Punjab, through its controversial Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) link canal keeps withdrawing more water than Kotri.

Balochistan has also come up with 71pc reduction in its share from Sukkur Barrage’s right bank canal on Saturday.

Shortage in Sindh worsens to 39pc while Balochistan gets 71pc less flows

The Balochistan irrigation department has taken up the issue with Irsa, pressing it to settle it with Sindh authorities in order to ensure its required share of 2,000 cusecs at GarangRegulator of North Western Canal (NWC). Balochistan is receiving just 571 cusecs, indicating 71pc lesser flows than its allocated share.

Controversial move

Irsa had recently announced that it was “adjusting excessive use of water by Sindh and trying to equalise shortages between Punjab and Sindh by June 10”. Sindh has strongly opposed the move but the issue has remained undecided in Irsa till date.

Sindh argues that the “flows supplied to Sindh on account of rainfall in the river system should not be deducted from its provincial share under the Water Accord 1991.

In an identical scenario, wrote an irrigation department official, such flows were utilised as ‘flood flows’ in Punjab and Sindh alike in 2024. These flows were accordingly adjusted by Irsa, instead of being deducted against share of each province, according to one assessment.

Given the water flows recorded on June 7 (Sunday), Kotri barrage topped in water shortage figures with 57pc, followed by Sukkur’s 37pc and Guddu’s 27pc.

When compared with shortage in Punjab’s canals downstream Chashma, Punjab had reported only 2.1pc shortage on June 4, otherwise the province got surplus water invariably between 4.5pc and 6.7pc from June 1 to 5 (barring June 4).

Link canals

The controversial link canals — Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) and Taunsa Panjnad (TP) — continued to draw water. It would be interesting to note that while Sindh’s water shortage trajectory continues to record an upward trend, CJ link canal alone was drawing flows more than the quantum being drawn at Kotri Barrage as of June 5. CJ Canal received 16,470 cusecs flows when Kotri got 11,645 cusecs against allocated share of 26,900 as per the 1991 Water Accord.

When Sindh submitted an indent of 130,000 cusecs on May 26, Irsa was releasing 115,000 cusecs downstream Chashma till June 3. The 115,000 cusecs flow was inclusive of the share of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan’s canals. “Out of 115,000 cusecs, Punjab received / diverted its share at Indus for Taunsa-Panjnad link canal, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan canals. Rest of the flows headed for Sindh’s barrages,” said an expert after analysing discharges in the system.

Expert’s view

Explaining the situation, he quoted one of Irsa’s flows-related communication to Sindh. He pointed out that this communication showed Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan would receive 24,000 cusecs, 90,000 cusecs and 11,000 cusecs, respectively, from June 1, taking total quantum to 125,000 cusecs whereas actual releases stood at 115,000 cusecs, showing a deficit of 10,000 cusecs.

As per the fixed share, Punjab withdrew 11,894 cusecs for TP link canal, 7,300 cusecs for Muzaffargarh and 6,500 cusecs for Dera Ghazi Khan canal, totaling 25,694 cusecs till June 5 which was over and above the share (24,000 cusecs) fixed by Irsa, thus recording 7.1pc more withdrawal by Punjab.

Irsa, however, increased releases from June 4 by providing 138,000 cusecs below Chashma Barrage whilst Sindh’s indent of 130,000 cusecs at Chashma remained unchanged. Out of the 138,000 cusecs, Punjab’s share was fixed at 26,000 cusecs, Sindh’s 100,000 cusecs and Balochistan’s 12,000 cusecs from June 7.

Till June 7, 138,000 cusecs releases at Chashma stood unchanged and by that time Sindh submitted an increased indent of 145,000 cusecs, considering requirement of canals of three barrages in Kharif. “Irsa should have released 183,000 cusecs below Chashma to meet Sindh’s indent of 145,000 cusecs so that Balochistan’s share is also met. But shortage in Sindh keeps increasing with each passing day,” said a source.

A lesser flow of 24.6pc is being released by Irsa considering indent of Sindh.

Pond level at Sukkur

Balochistan gets its share from Sukkur and Guddu Barrages. At Guddu, the share was released from Pat Feeder and NWC’s Kirthar Canal of Sukkur Barrage. For ensuring required flows to Balochistan, the Sukkur Barrage authorities needed a pond level of 199.5ft. It is currently 194.9ft — much below the required level.

The authorities hold flows to certain level to ensure required releases from the barrages in the right bank canal including NWC, which itself is reporting a reduction of 51pc at its head. This means the situation is bound to affect the entire system of the canal when the flows reach the Garang Regulator.

On June 6, Pat Feeder Canal SE Dera Murad Jamali sent a communication to the Irsa secretary complaining that arbitrary and continuous reduction in water supplies has seriously affected operational activities of Balochistan irrigation department and such actions were contrary to spirit of the Water Accord 1991.

“The matter may be taken up on an urgent basis with competent authorities of Sindh government to discontinue unjustified reductions and ensure full and equitable supply of Balochistan’s allocated share at Garang at RD-102 of Kirther canal,” he said.

Dams being filled

While shortages continued, water was being stored in Mangla Dam by Irsa despite a severe shortage in the peak Kharif season in Sindh. The dam’s level stood at 1,170ft against maximum level of 1,242ft. Water was stored in Tarbela Dam, whose level stood at 1453.3ft against maximum storage level of 1,550ft. Tarbela is the principal source of water supply to Sindh.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026 ...