Punjab urges IRSA to ensure fair distribution of water

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LAHORE: The Punjab government has called on the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to ensure proper distribution of water in the provinces, accusing Sindh province of pulling more and more water, which he said, he violated the unanimous part.

In a letter on April 9, 2025, Punjab argued that the IRSA announced a significant reduction of 43 PC water for the initial Kharif 2025, in which Punjab was allocated only 6.702 million acre feet (MAF). This significant reduction raised concerns about the province’s water safety and agricultural productivity.

The news reached the IRSA, which asked for his comments on development. According to the Punjab Irrigation Department, the operational standards of the JC Zone were reviewed during the early 2025, and the release from Mangla Dam before June 30, 2025, will be limited to 8,000 cusecs to ensure 60 pc filling. However, Punjab faces significant challenges in accessing shares allotted in this shares of water.

Despite the shortage announced, Sindh province was pulling more water than its right shares, which promoted water shortage in Punjab. Moreover, low reporting reports in Sindh Baris have raised concerns about the accuracy of water distribution. The irrigation department called on the IRSA to ensure accurate and transparent reporting from all Sindh Berries and strictly monitor the shares of the water during the initial Kharif.

Punjab also requested the operation of CJ and TP link canals to access its entitled shares from the Indus River. The letter states that the water crisis in Punjab has reached an important point, which is at risk of mass unrest and economic difficulties. The letter further states that the situation calls for immediate and decisive intervention to re -evaluate the shares, ensure transparent reporting and prevent unnecessary flow.

According to the key demands of Punjab, the IRSA was asked to ensure a fair and transparent distribution of water in the provinces. In addition, the allotted part of Punjab in water should be provided without any shortage or delays. CJ and TP link canals should be strictly run according to the gestures of Punjab. IRSA must investigate and deal with low reporting of water discharge in Sindh Baris.

The irrigation department emphasized that the situation needs immediate attention from the authorities to prevent further increase in the water crisis in Punjab.

The IRSA announced a reduction of 16 PC for both Punjab and Sindh, at a meeting of its Advisory Committee for Rabi 2024-25. However, by the end of the Rabbi 2024-25, the water supply of canal to Sindh was provided with a shortage of 19 pcs while Punjab was provided with 22 PC water supply.

Moreover, during the entire Rabi 2024-25 season, IRSA did not provide any supply of water-flowing cottage barrages. However, despite the huge shortage of canal water supply in Punjab, the Sindh irrigation department survived 0.470 MAF water under the Kotri Barrage.

In addition, an IRSA representative inspected Sindh Berries on February 15, 2025 and found that the Rice Canal was operating in 936 Cusecs, while the Sindh Irrigation Department reported the canal on February 15, 2025.

In addition, the Dadu Canal was running at 1,226 cusecs compared to the 950 cusecs reported discharge, once again the difference of 276 Cusecs was seen. Punjab said that all the above facts have clearly indicated that Sindh is using extra water and also reporting less on its barrages, which has directly impacted other provinces, especially Punjab, because Punjab and Sindh are the only provinces that share the water supply.