Tweet
Punjab sacrificing for Sindh
ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa), giving its latest technical input, has advised the federal and provincial governments to build 20 million acre feet (maf) water reservoirs as soon as possible.
Without specifying a spot either for the small, medium or large dams, the Irsa team, officially, put forward to the authorities its well-considered opinion, collectively compiled with statistics. The Irsa Secretariat mentioned average water discharge to sea in the last 35 years and mandatory requirement to spare at least 10maf yearly water release for countering environmental and ecological affects, besides ensuring safety to marine life.
“Yes, there is a consensus at Irsa platform that 20maf must be stored for achieving three-fold objectives: meet irrigation needs, generate hydroelectricity and mitigate flood devastations,” confirmed Irsa Chairman Rao Irshad to The News.
Irsa, in its official communication signed by its chairman, submitted the figures before the federal government through the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and to the provinces through their respective Irrigation departments.
“We have pointed out that 31maf per year on average basis goes to the sea since 1976, and the same quantum must be stored while meeting the requirement of 10-11maf Kotri Barrage downstream escapage, spread over 12 months,” the chairman maintains. Rao, without naming any dam, however, said that the country needs enhanced overall storage instead of letting the wastage continue when we direly require maximum utilization.
“We have written for building the storages on priority basis; otherwise, the situation will go from bad to worst with the provinces, quarrelling with one another,” according to the Irsa chairman.
The last Irsa authority meeting, he said, took up the water wastage issue as “we totally depend on nature and have not taken a few steps to raise storage capacity through any arrangement.”
Talking about the most recent rain spell, which is continuing in the upper areas, Rao Irshad said it would have little impact on the irrigation side as it may not contribute more than 5,000 cusecs for a couple of days.
“The melting of snow in glaciers is underway slowly as it was in the past one week or more, and thus Tarbela dam stands at its dead level though Mangla reservoir is up to a stable position,” the Irsa chairman maintained.
Rao negated that Punjab has surrendered its share to Sindh. “The Punjab, itself, suggested and all agreed to let Sindh continue drawing its water indent due to urgency for its Kharif crops.”
“The Punjab reduced its canal withdrawal as a goodwill gesture and Sindh took this step in the same spirit as it would be adjustable at the time when Punjab needs more.” To another question, he said Punjab has certainly given a sacrifice but up to the extent of not availing its due indent for the time being, and the spirit must be appreciated and followed in future.
The Irsa chairman said that Sindh province is getting water in accordance with its canal withdrawals for early Kharif period. “It was and is obtaining 45,000 cusecs daily irrespective of considerably reduced flows in the Indus River, and it all took place with Punjab’s healthy example of compensating others.”
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrin...3&dt=4/11/2011
ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa), giving its latest technical input, has advised the federal and provincial governments to build 20 million acre feet (maf) water reservoirs as soon as possible.
Without specifying a spot either for the small, medium or large dams, the Irsa team, officially, put forward to the authorities its well-considered opinion, collectively compiled with statistics. The Irsa Secretariat mentioned average water discharge to sea in the last 35 years and mandatory requirement to spare at least 10maf yearly water release for countering environmental and ecological affects, besides ensuring safety to marine life.
“Yes, there is a consensus at Irsa platform that 20maf must be stored for achieving three-fold objectives: meet irrigation needs, generate hydroelectricity and mitigate flood devastations,” confirmed Irsa Chairman Rao Irshad to The News.
Irsa, in its official communication signed by its chairman, submitted the figures before the federal government through the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and to the provinces through their respective Irrigation departments.
“We have pointed out that 31maf per year on average basis goes to the sea since 1976, and the same quantum must be stored while meeting the requirement of 10-11maf Kotri Barrage downstream escapage, spread over 12 months,” the chairman maintains. Rao, without naming any dam, however, said that the country needs enhanced overall storage instead of letting the wastage continue when we direly require maximum utilization.
“We have written for building the storages on priority basis; otherwise, the situation will go from bad to worst with the provinces, quarrelling with one another,” according to the Irsa chairman.
The last Irsa authority meeting, he said, took up the water wastage issue as “we totally depend on nature and have not taken a few steps to raise storage capacity through any arrangement.”
Talking about the most recent rain spell, which is continuing in the upper areas, Rao Irshad said it would have little impact on the irrigation side as it may not contribute more than 5,000 cusecs for a couple of days.
“The melting of snow in glaciers is underway slowly as it was in the past one week or more, and thus Tarbela dam stands at its dead level though Mangla reservoir is up to a stable position,” the Irsa chairman maintained.
Rao negated that Punjab has surrendered its share to Sindh. “The Punjab, itself, suggested and all agreed to let Sindh continue drawing its water indent due to urgency for its Kharif crops.”
“The Punjab reduced its canal withdrawal as a goodwill gesture and Sindh took this step in the same spirit as it would be adjustable at the time when Punjab needs more.” To another question, he said Punjab has certainly given a sacrifice but up to the extent of not availing its due indent for the time being, and the spirit must be appreciated and followed in future.
The Irsa chairman said that Sindh province is getting water in accordance with its canal withdrawals for early Kharif period. “It was and is obtaining 45,000 cusecs daily irrespective of considerably reduced flows in the Indus River, and it all took place with Punjab’s healthy example of compensating others.”
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrin...3&dt=4/11/2011
Comment