Irrigation water shortage in Sindh reaches alarming level
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LARKANA: The Right Bank Canal System of Sukkur Barrage is currently experiencing a critical irrigation water shortage, severely impacting the command areas of Larkana an Qambar-Shahdadkot districts, as well as the lands in Balochistan, fed through the North West Canal (NWC) during the peak Kharif crop season. The impact is also affecting Dadu Canal, Rice Canal and those irrigating the Sukkur district. Sources privy to the situation told Dawn on Saturday that the prevailing shortfall across the canal network has reached an alarming level — North West Canal (-) 64.1%, Rice Canal (-) 38.0% and Dadu Canal (-) 82.0%. Credible data obtained from sources in Sindh’s irrigation department indicates that Punjab is currently drawing 53,394 cusecs against its allocated share of 44,000 cusecs — an excess withdrawal of around 21.35%. Similarly, Taunsa Barrage is lifting 25,694 cusecs against its entitled share of 24,000 cusecs, reflecting an over-withdrawal of approximately 9.3%. Meanwhile, the pond level at Chashma Barrage has recorded a continuous rise, climbing from 644.9 feet on Friday to 646.4 feet on Saturday, indicating accumulation of water in the upper reaches even as downstream scarcity deepens to a more critical situation. Official data shows crisis deepening due to over-withdrawal by Punjab A reliable source told Dawn on Saturday that the chief engineer Barrage Management Unit was kept abreast about the current water situation. He was requested due consideration and necessary action. The matter was also conveyed to the irrigation secretary and the department’s technical secretary, besides other officials concerned. Despite Sindh having submitted an indent of 130,000 cusecs, only 100,000 cusecs is being released, leaving the province to contend with a massive shortfall. The irrigation people said that the particular concern is the controversial Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) Link Canal, which remains operational and is drawing approximately 16,500 cusecs — a volume that exceeds t