The Sindh Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution that rejected the construction of six new channels in the Indo River, including the Cholistan channel, which calls them illegal and a violation of the 1991 water agreement.
The resolution urged the Federal Government and the authority of the Indo River System (IRSA) to stop any plan or activities related to these projects until all provinces are consulted, particularly Sindh, to ensure that their water rights are protected.
“This house demands an immediate detention of any plan, activities or work related to the construction of the Cholistan Canal and other channels in the Indo River system,” said the resolution. He also requested a dialogue between provincial stakeholders to guarantee interprovincial water justice.
CM Shah raises concerns of water rights
Sindh’s prime minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, reaffirmed Sindh’s historical rights over the Indo and warned of his waters without consent.
“The people of Sindh have a legitimate claim on these rivers,” he said, emphasizing that water cannot be taken without the agreement of those who have been based on it for centuries.
He criticized the water diversion from the fertile lands of Punjab to Cholistan, arguing that it would have serious consequences for both provinces. “Will Punjab allow your most productive regions, such as Chaj Doab and Rachna Doab, to dry just to water a desert?” He questioned.
The CM also cited previous agreements, including the Agua Agua Sindh-Punjab of 1945, which assigned a fixed participation to Punjab while guaranteed that excess water flows to Sindh.
With the growing concerns about water scarcity, Shah urged all interested parties to adhere to historical agreements and guarantee a fair distribution to safeguard the water resources of Sindh.
