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'Thal
Canal will draw water from Punjab's share'
Lahore: Thal Flood Water Canal is non perennial to supply
water only during Kharif season and water for this project
would be drawn from the share of Punjab allocated in the Water
Accord 1991.
This ground reality has been once again clarified by the
official sources while responding to the unfounded and
contrary to facts criticism from certain quarters to the canal
project.
The sources added that Punjab will use its share of water
during the flood season. In no way it would affect the
province of Sindh, particularly the reverine area. The average
water flowing down stream of Kotri Barrage is of the order of
35 MAF. Last 10 year data is as follows:-
1991-92(53.29 MAF), 1992-93(81.49 MAF), 1993-94(29.11 MAF),
1994-95(91.82 MAF),
1995-96(62.76 MAF), 1996-97(45.40 MAF), 1997-98(20.97 MAF),
1998-99(35.15 MAF),
1999-2000(8.83 MAF), 2000-2001(0.77 MAF). Average of last 10
years is 37.6 MAF.
The sources said, there are more than three non perennial
canals in Sindh. There would be Nara flood irrigation canal
for Sindh and Kacchi Canal for Balochistan. These projects
have been planned with due consideration of the share of each
province. The
apprehensions of Sindh Agricultural Form (SAF) are therefore
hypothetical and baseless.
It is not the mandate of IRSA to approve or disapprove
irrigation projects. Hence reference to IRSA is not relevant
unless there is an encroachment of the agreed share of
provinces in Water Accord. Thal Canal has been approved by the
Federal Government for achieving enhanced agricultural
production in the country. It is not unconstitutional, the
sources said.
March 01, 2002
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here are of those of the writer and Pakissan.com is not liable
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