|
Water to Sindh in best
interest of country
LAHORE—Federal Member Indus River System Authority (Irsa)
Ansar Rajput on Friday visited Punjab Irrigation Department
offices and inquired about the implementation of Governor
Punjab directive to supply water to Sindh from Punjab’s share.
According to sources, the
member, who belongs to Sindh, asked about the implementation
of the governor’s decision and checked the record of canal
discharges during his visit to the provincial Irrigation
Department. The officials of the Irrigation Department told
Member of Irsa that the department was implementing decision
of the Governor in letter and spirit, showing them data of
water discharges at various canals and barrages.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that
around 15,000 cusecs of water was being supplied to Sindh from
Punjab’s share daily.
Another sacrifice: The
agriculture experts has expressed their concerns over Punjab
governor’s directive to allow Sindh to use water from Punjab’s
share, terming it yet another sacrifice on the part of the
farmers of the Punjab. They recalled that Punjab, on the
directive of CE Secretariat, had given approximately two lakh
cusecs of water to Sindh from its own share last year.
The experts said that last
year, around 4,000 cusecs/day water for 21 days (April 9-30)
was given to Sindh from Punjab’s share which is equal to
around 185,000 acre feet of water. “It is a quantum of water
enough for one irrigation to 80,000 acres of Punjab’s land.
It reflects a sacrifice made in
the greater interest of country”, an official of the Punjab
Irrigation Department said. On Thursday (March 14, 2002)
Governor Punjab Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Maqbool on the direction
of President of Pakistan has instructed to close all canals of
Punjab after March 15 with a view to giving water to Sindh
from Punjab’s share.
Under the direction, all the
water inflow in Sindh, Jehlum and Chenab rivers will be
supplied to Sindh from Punjab’s share in order to ensure
cotton sowing in Sindh.
Meanwhile, an office bearers of Punjab Water Council said that
Punjab had been pressurised to surrender its water rights to
Sindh. The Punjab has made a conscious choice to sacrifice
March-April water, which is used for wheat, sugarcane, fodder,
orchards, sunflower etc., they said.
He questioned the Punjab
government decision of ‘gifting’ water to Sindh by deserting
its own land. Due to sacrificing the Punjab share, the direct
sufferers would be poor farmers of Punjab”, he lamented.
The Sindh has always had more
water than its crops required and they have been
over-irrigating in the past”, he opined. He said the economic
managers of the Federal Government should also take note
March 17, 2002
|
