QUETA:
The Balochistan government is considering legal action against the Sindh government for what it describes as unfair distribution of canal water after repeated contacts with the Sindh chief minister and other authorities failed to ensure the province received its approved share.
According to officials, the canal water shortage in Balochistan has worsened due to continued reductions in water supplied by Sindh despite an improvement in river flows.
Pat feeder canal superintendent engineer Mudassar Khoso said that although the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) had reported better water availability, the Sindh Irrigation Department was still providing Balochistan with 46% less water than its allocated share.
He said Balochistan currently receives only 0.365 million acre feet (MAF) of water against its allocated share of 0.678 MAF, leaving a shortfall of 0.310 MAF.
Khoso said in RD-109 that Balochistan needed 6,700 cusecs of water but was receiving only 4,096 cusecs. Likewise, in RD-102 the province received only 1,050 cusecs compared to a demand of 2,400 cusecs.
He said he had earlier written to the relevant authorities requesting a review of water flows allocated to Balochistan, but received a response contrary to official procedures and administrative ethics.
Khoso added that he now plans to visit Guddu Barrage on Monday (July 6) to review the situation after postponing an earlier visit scheduled for July 1 due to official commitments.
Provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani said Sindh’s continued reduction of Balochistan canal water quota was making the situation increasingly serious.
He said the issue had been taken up with federal water resources minister, Sindh irrigation minister, Sindh irrigation secretary and IRSA chairman through meetings and written communications, urging them to stop deductions from the share allocated to Balochistan.
Umrani said Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had also contacted Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who assured him that no deductions would be made.
However, he alleged that despite assurances, Sindh Irrigation Department officials continued to reduce water supply to Balochistan.
The provincial minister said the IRSA chairman had also written to the Sindh government, stating that Punjab was not responsible for the reduction and that Sindh was making the deductions, which amounted to injustice against Balochistan.
Umrani said that despite going to all available forums, the province had not received relief from what he called unfair treatment and was now seriously considering initiating legal proceedings against the Sindh government.
He said he would meet Chief Minister Bugti later in the day to brief him on the seriousness of the situation and seek his approval to take legal action. Umrani vowed that Balochistan would not allow any further violation of its water rights.
