Caretaker CM directs irrigation dept to ensure provision of water till tail-end

KARACHI: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Fazul-ur-Rehman on Monday said that since there was water shortage in the country, therefore there should be sagacious distribution of water up to the tail-end of Karachi.

This he said while presiding over his maiden meeting with irrigation department here at the CM House. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Principal Secretary to CM Aijaz Ali Khan, Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah and Special Secretary (Tech) Irrigation Aslam Saryo.

Briefing the chief minister, the secretary irrigation said that there was overall 42 percent water shortage in the country. Quoting water accord, Shah said that during kharif season water share of Sindh rises to 106,300 cusecs while Sindh is currently receiving 36,450 cusecs which is hardly 34 percent.

He said that the withdrawal at the canals of Guddu Barrage had been recorded at 7,600 cusecs. Desert Pat Feeder withdraws 3,555 cusecs and Ghotki Feeder 4,045 cusecs. The canals of Sukkur barrage withdraws 22,715 cusecs.

“Their details are North Western Canal withdraws 1800 cusecs, Rice Canal 1000, Dadu Canal 1675, Nara Canal 8100, Khairpur Feeder East 1140, Rohri Canal 8100 and Khairpur Feeder West withdraws 900 cusecs. Kotri Barrage’s withdrawal has been recorded at 6135 cusecs which include Kalri Baghar 2240 cusecs, Akram Wah 640 cusecs, Pinyari 1370 cusecs, New Fuleli 1885 cusecs.”

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The chief minister said that there were complaints of acute water shortage at Badin and other tail-end areas. He directed the secretary irrigation to remove those complaints by releasing whatever water is available up to the tail-end.

Talking about Karachi, Fazl said that water level at Keenjhar should be maintained at standard level so that water could be provided to Karachi smoothly. On this the chief secretary said that he was personally monitoring water releases to Karachi in proper and normal way.

Special Secretary Aslam Ansari said that Keenjhar Lake level had been maintained at 46.30 RL so that 1200 cusecs of water can be supplied to Karachi without any problem. He added that when water position would improve in the River Indus, the level of Keenjhar would be brought up to 53.2 RL which turns to be two-month storage for Karachi.

Secretary Irrigation Jamal Shah said that temperature at Skardu was increased to 32.2 degree, therefore glaciers would start melting and water position would improve.

He said that water position would start improving from June 7 and by June 15 and around 70 percent water requirement would be achieved.

The chief minister directed the Irrigation department to manage water distribution properly so that everyone up to the tail-end could get some share.