Sindh facing drought situation, Punjab sharing only 8% shortage of water, Says Rahu
KARACHI (May 22, 2021): The Sindh government in response to the water situation has said that Indus River System Authority (IRSA) is not providing water share of Sindh, hence there has been severe drought in Sindh.
Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu said that Sindh’s agriculture is being destroyed, farmers are not getting water to cultivate new crops, but it has become impossible to save the crops. Punjab is sharing only 8% shortage, while Sindh was given 46% less water. IRSA should reply.
He said that the federal government has to account for this atrocity with Sindh. At present, the condition of the three barrages in Sindh is very serious.
Rahu said that Guddu Barrage should get 12,600 cusecs of water at present, which is getting only 6,632 cusecs.
Guddu Barrage is being given 47.4% less water, Sukkur Barrage water should get 43100 cusecs, but it was getting only 27339 cusecs, i.e Sukkur is facing 36.6% shortage.
The provincial minister said that the canals of Kotri Barrage should get 21,700 cusecs of water at present, where only 7,555 cusecs are available. The worst situation is at Kotri Barrage. All the districts of Lower Sindh are suffering from severe drought.
Ismail Rahu said that rice farmers in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Qambar, Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Badin Sujawal, Thatta and Tando Muhammad Khan are in dire straits due to lack of water. They could not apply seedling.
Ismail Rahu claimed that orchards, vegetables, sugarcane and cotton crops in Sindh have been depleted due to water scarcity. Ismail Rahu said that if the theft of water is not stopped, there will be strong protests, the federal government wants to harm agriculture and farmers by stopping water in Sindh.
