KARACHI:
The controversial proposal to build six new canals on the Indus River to irrigate Punjab’s Cholistan Desert continued to raise relations between two key allies in the coalition government at the Centre, with the PPP on Saturday calling for greater clarity and accountability from the federal government. .
Attacking Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal for dismissing Sindh’s objections to the canal project as “baseless”, the PPP drew attention to widespread protests across Sindh against the controversial canals, claiming that people in the province have expressed severe reservations and resentment about the projects.
The PPP also questioned the federal government’s failure to convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the constitutional forum for resolving inter-provincial disputes, to address water concerns.
PPP Sindh president Nisar Khuhro termed the federal government’s stance as weak, raised serious doubts over the implementation of the 1991 Water Agreement and questioned the viability of the proposed canal projects.
He questioned how Punjab could have surplus water to fill the 4,152 cusec capacity of Cholistan canals, saying: “If Punjab does not have additional water, where will the supply for these canals come from?”
Khuhro also expressed concern over the redevelopment of Qadirabad, Sulemanki and Rasul dams to channel Jhelum river water into Cholistan canals. He warned that this plan could require continued operation of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals, which could leave the lands of Sindh barren.
The PPP leader reiterated Sindh’s long-standing apprehensions, stating that the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals, designated as flood canals, could be continuously operated to divert Sindh water into Cholistan canals.
He demanded an explanation from the federal government regarding these concerns.
Khuhro also accused the federal government of failing to fully implement the 1991 Water Agreement.
“Although the federal government talks about the allocation of water to the provinces according to the agreement, the reality is that it is not being fully implemented,” he said, noting that the distribution of water was not being carried out in accordance with paragraph 2 of the agreement.
He raised further questions on the alleged theft of water, particularly in relation to the installation of pumping machines from Taunsa to Guddu Barrage to divert Sindh’s share of water. He criticized the lack of action on the recommendations of the ministerial committee, headed by Khalid Magsi, which called for measures to curb water theft and improve control of water flows.
Khuhro called for the installation of a telemetry system to ensure transparent monitoring of water flow, noting that the federal government has not yet taken this step.
He also questioned why the CCI, the constitutional forum to resolve inter-provincial disputes, has not been convened to address these water-related issues.
He accused the federal government of repeatedly violating constitutional provisions and ignoring the legitimate concerns of Sindh. “If the water distribution is transparent, why hasn’t the telemetry system been implemented?” asked.
Echoes of Kalabagh Dam
Drawing a parallel with the Kalabagh Dam controversy, Khuhro reminded the government of Sindh’s staunch opposition to the project during former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure.
He said the federal government had to abandon the Kalabagh dam due to resistance from Sindh. The same fate awaits these new canal projects, he stated.
He urged the federal government to heed the voices of the people of Sindh, respect the Sindh Assembly resolution and immediately withdraw plans for the controversial canals. “The people of Sindh will not allow even a drop of their fair share of water to be stolen,” he vowed.
Khuhro emphasized that the lands of Sindh are already suffering due to insufficient water supply, with millions of acres rendered barren. He warned that the proposed canals would exacerbate the situation. “If Punjab wants to cultivate its wastelands, it should tap groundwater or use reverse osmosis plants to make saline water usable,” he added.
Khuhro called on the federal government to respect the 1991 Water Agreement, address Sindh’s constitutional objections and immediately withdraw plans for the controversial canal projects to prevent further damage to Sindh’s lands and rights.
In a strongly worded statement, former Senate President Mian Raza Rabbani urged the federal government and the minister to respect the provincial autonomy enshrined in the constitution. He stressed that the rights of Sindh as a lower riparian region and the sentiments of its people cannot be ignored.
He pointed out that the decision to build new canals to draw water from the Indus River for agriculture in the Cholistan region of Punjab could not be taken unilaterally by the federal government.
“This issue should have been and should be brought before the Council of Common Interest (CCI), which the federal government has not convened since the inspection of its current mandate,” the statement said.
“The agricultural sector is the axis of the provincial economy, Sindh also contributes approximately 23% of the national value added of the federation; 41% of the national production of rice; 31% of sugarcane and 21% of wheat,” he said.
He regretted that Sindh has already been deprived of its fair and legitimate share in water distribution. “The provincial government has written to the federal government to convene a CCI meeting, which it continues to avoid.”
“In view of the already destabilized political atmosphere, federal political tensions will only increase the destabilization, which may be detrimental to the system and also to the federation.”
