|
Sindh, Punjab again at
loggerheads over Mangla water
ISLAMABAD: Sindh and Punjab have
again developed differences over the existing low quantity of
water in Mangla Dam required for Rabi 2002-2003 crops from
first April.
The issue will be taken up in today's Indus River System
Authority (Irsa) meeting, sources said, adding the authority
will discuss a host of issues including water storage in
Mangla and the approval of new water distribution plan for the
coming Kharif crops. Chief Engineer Amanullah Khan will
preside over the meeting. Punjab, according to the sources, is
pressing the Irsa to allow it to store water in Mangla Dam for
the next Rabi 2002-2003. Punjab is of the view that snow
melting begin from March 15 till July.
Provincial authorities deem it necessary for the Punjab
farmers that the dam is filled to its capacity prior to the
end of snow melting season. The farmers could then only draw
maximum water during the coming season, especially when wheat
sowing in the province is in full swing.
However, sources said, Sindh is of the view that it is not the
right time to store water in Mangla when provinces are facing
serious water shortages. It said the provincial water
requirement be met first and then in case of surplus water,
any province be allowed to store water in the dam.
The sources said Irsa meeting will formally decide the timing
of water storage in the dam. The Irsa will decide the share of
provinces in the Kharif on the basis of historical use. This
time, officials said, the water shortage is being reported
less at 17.6 per cent in coming Khairf compared to 18.5 per
cent last year.
Meanwhile, the Irsa has told the Chief Executive Secretariat
it has so far not received the copy of PC-1 of the
controversial Greater Thal Canal Project despite several
requests made to the irrigation authorities to the effect, it
is learnt.
The sources said that the Irsa had informed Punjab it would
start releasing water for three of its canals from Thursday to
enable them run from April 1. Earlier, the sources said, the
CE Secretariat had sought a report from Irsa about the
'certification of water' for the Thal Canal
The report was to be submitted by April 1. Subsequently, the
Irsa authorities forwarded this letter to Punjab and asked its
irrigation authorities to provide a copy of the Thal Canal
Project so in the light of the given figures and data in the
project copy, the report could be sent to the CE Secretariat.
Now, officials said that the Irsa had sent a note to the CE
Secretariat that in spite of reminders to the provincial
government, no reply had been given resulting in the delay of
the report for the secretariat. The Irsa sought five more days
to furnish its report as in the meantime it will try to
contact Punjab to get the copy of the project and send its
report to the CE Secretariat.
Courtesy The News March
27, 2002 |
Pakissan.com;
|
