Pakistan faces water crisis as India builds dams on shared rivers

Leaders have to meet and get this sorted out. Common people from both nations who have no stake in the war get effected. The farmers on both sides are the pawns and casualties for no fault of theirs. There is plenty of water ofor both countries assuming they channel the qater properly build dams correctly etc. The war in kashmir shoukd not cause a humanitarian water crisis nor should leaders play river games. Improve technology infrastructure etc- plenty of water available which is being wasted due to inefficiencies
I think it might be worth your time to read more about the "dispute"
 
I think it might be worth your time to read more about the "dispute"
Yeah i know about the dispute!! Because there is none . Ind hasn't broken any rules. I was just saying a lot of water is wasted currently and both countries should up their infrastructure. .But if pak doesn't want to do it or be collaboratiive or just be gung ho- then it doesnt help ayone and even pak own citizens.
 
Yeah i know about the dispute!! Because there is none . Ind hasn't broken any rules. I was just saying a lot of water is wasted currently and both countries should up their infrastructure. .But if pak doesn't want to do it or be collaboratiive or just be gung ho- then it doesnt help ayone and even pak own citizens.
When has Pak ever been collaborative? as in a win win with India, in a bilateral sense?
 
Only India's share of water i.e. the western rivers - Ravi, Beas & Sutlej. Earlier India used to use the waters only for hydro-electricity generation and divert some of them for irrigation and letting some flow through. Now we have ensure that hardly a drop of that water flows through to Pakistan - they are entirely diverted for irrigation. Though I suppose this is not healthy for Indus river system and deprived Pakistani farmers of water they used to traditionally get, Pakistan has not raised an objection since this is strictly in accordance with the agreement.

The contention is with the western rivers - Indus, Chenab and Jhelum whose waters belong to Pakistan. The dams India has built on them so far only use the water for electricity generation and retain nothing for irrigation. This is allowed as per the Treaty. The main issue is that India has built some higher than typical which could allow it to actually hold back the water if we chose to. Let's be clear - India is not doing that now and Pakistan has not claimed India is doing it. It's contention is with the design of the dams and the way they alter the flow of the rivers.
Actually non-consumptive local use is allowed up to 7%.

If india can plant water intensive cops such as rice to fully utilize the 7% it is allocated on the western rivers.


what do you think @Cpt. Rishwat
 
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India releases water into Chenab River without information​


India has released water into the Chenab River without prior notification, prompting a significant flood alert.

The Flood Warning Center has recorded a flow of 180,000 cusecs at the Marala Barrage, with projections indicating that this could rise to 250,000 cusecs within the next 24 hours.

The unexpected release has led to a medium-level flood condition at Marala Barrage, raising concerns about potential high-level flooding downstream.

The high-level flood warning has been extended from Marala to Qadirabad Barrages, with particular concern for katcha areas in Hafizabad, Gujranwala, and Sialkot, where there is a risk of submergence in low-lying regions.

The Indus Waters Commission had reported similar situations last year, with India releasing 200,000 cusecs of water. However, there has been no response from New Delhi regarding recent communications from Pakistani Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared for emergency measures to address potential flooding impacts in the affected regions.

 

Good news for agri, power sectors: Tarbela reaches full capacity​


In a significant development for Pakistan’s water and power sectors, Tarbela Dam has been filled to its maximum capacity, with water levels reaching 1,550 feet.

This marks the second consecutive year that the dam has been fully filled, storing over 5.8 million acre-feet (MAF) of water.

The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) announced that with the dam now at full capacity, there is no room for additional water storage. As a result, spillway gates have been opened to manage the overflow.

WAPDA is expected to make an official announcement regarding the dam's status later today.

The completion of Tarbela Dam for the second year in a row is being hailed as a major success, particularly for the agricultural and energy sectors. The stored water will be used for irrigation purposes across the country, ensuring that agricultural activities remain uninterrupted during the upcoming seasons.

Additionally, the dam will continue to generate hydroelectric power, contributing to the stability of the national grid.

On the other hand, over the past 10 years, Pakistan’s oil and gas production has witnessed a significant decline instead of the anticipated growth, a situation attributed to political instability, security concerns, and a persistent lack of investment in exploration and development.

Due to the reasons mentioned above, large reserves have not been discovered over the last decade.

According to data provided by the Pakistan Petroleum Information Service (PPIS), the country’s crude oil production has fallen drastically since 2015. Back then, the daily production stood at 94,500 barrels. However, by 2024, it had decreased to just 70,500 barrels per day. This shows a staggering decline in petrol production of 24,000 barrels per day over the last decade.

 
Pakistan must learn the importance of water. If you cannot build the necessary infrastructure to save water then Bharat has the responsibility to teach Pakistan a lesson by being strict and harsh. Not because we are like that but because we have to do this act so Pakistan can learn.
 
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People’s Party decides to oppose likely amends in IRSA Act

Pakistan People’s Party has decided to reject likely amendments in the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) law from the federal government.

“The PPP will oppose any change in the IRSA Act”, the Sindh government sources said.

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro will present an adjournment motion in Sindh Assembly with regard to the amendment in IRSA Act.

It has been decided that all PPP members in Sindh Assembly will oppose any amendment in the Indus River System Authority Act.

Federal government intends to abolish the 1991 water accord and keep all powers with it, sources observed.

Indus River System Authority was established in 1992 through an Act of Parliament for regulating and monitoring of the distribution of water resources of Indus river system among the four provinces in accordance with the Water Apportionment Accord 1991.

It is to be mentioned here that IRSA Act amendments were proposed during the previous caretaker government and the ordinance was rejected by the President over divergent views on the matter.

 
Sindh and Balochistan jointly reject amendment in IRSA Act

Balochistan and Sindh provinces have jointly rejected proposed amends in the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act.

Irrigation ministers of Balochistan and Sindh, Mir Sadiq Umrani and Jam Khan Shoro in a joint press conference here said,”We jointly reject the amendment in the IRSA Act”.

“Amendments in the IRSA Act violation of the constitution and against the provincial autonomy,” Sindh’s irrigation minister Jam Khan Shoro said.

He said Sindh Assembly yesterday rejected the IRSA amends in a unanimously passed resolution.

“Under the current law Chairman IRSA becomes by rotation but under the proposed amendment the prime minister will appoint the chairman”. “The amendment in the law allows the PM to nominate the chairman with proposed amends in law the prime minister could nominate or remove a member of the authority,” Sindh’s minister said.

He said the water has been a provincial subject, proposed amendments in law are a blow to the provincial autonomy.

Shoro said that after Sindh’s political parties today Balochistan has also rejected the IRSA amendments.

The Sindh Assembly in a rare show of unity rejected the proposed amendment to the Indus River System Authority Act, resolving to never give up the province’s right on water guaranteed in the Water Accord of 1991.

The house unanimously adopted a resolution against the proposed amendment to the Irsa Act-1992, with members terming the proposal against the Constitution and democratic spirit of the federation.

The resolution, tabled by Pakistan People’s Party member Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, demanded the federal government to implement the water accord in true letter and spirit and not change or amend the IRSA law.

 
Baloch & Afghan brothers, you must fight to protect your share of the water. It’s your right and your Hindu brothers sitting in Bharat will always support you no matter what.
 
'Taking Undue Advantage': India Sends Notice To Pakistan, Demands Review Of Indus Water Treaty

India has sent a notice to Pakistan, demanding review of the 1960 Indus water treaty. The formal notice was sent on August 30. The notice mentioned that a one-sided water treaty has been there since its inception in 1960 and that various articles of the treaty need real assessment.

India also mentioned the continuous terrorist activities from Pakistan’s side and said Pakistan was taking undue advantage of Indian generosity, and that a relook was required.

Under Article XII (3) of the Treaty, its provisions may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified Treaty concluded for that purpose between the two Governments.

In January last year, India had sent a similar notice for the modification of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the northwestern neighbour “unilaterally” tried to change the process of resolving disputes between the two sides.

According to sources, the Indian notification highlights fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of obligations under various Articles of the Treaty. Three specific concerns have been emphasised to drive home the point that the 1960 understanding is no longer tenable.

Sources said that the first was significantly altered population demographics, coupled with connected agricultural and other uses of the waters. The second was the need to accelerate the development of clean energy to meet India's emission targets.

The third underlines the impact of persistent cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir which has impeded the smooth operations of the Treaty and undermined full utilization of India's rights.

These developments come in the wake of a prolonged controversy on the handling of the Ratle and Kishenganga hydel projects. Indian officials believe that Pakistan has been compulsively obstructive about all projects on the Indian side and has taken undue advantage of India's generosity under the Indus Waters Treaty.

 
CDWP approval of Punjab’s water project irks Sindh

The Sindh government has expressed serious concerns over the approval of a new irrigation project worth over Rs200 billion in Punjab.

The two provinces have repeatedly come face-to-face over water sharing, with Sindh being a lower riparian province accusing Punjab of not allowing adequate water flow downstream.

Now, the row over is set to escalate as the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved an entirely new irrigation system for Punjab.

The province plans to build a 176km-long Cholistan canal and a 120km-long Marot canal in the Cholistan area.

The Sindh government has already submitted a complaint over this project to the Council of Common Interests (CCI), on which a decision is still awaited.

In a summary sent to the CCI in July, the Sindh government protested against the Water Availability Certificate (WAC) issued to the project by the water regulator, Indus River System Authority in January.

It questioned before CCI the two new canals — Jalalpur canal being built on the right side of Rasul Barrage and Cholistan on its left side — and claimed the water regulator had “overstepped its authority” by issuing the certificate.

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro has questioned CDWP’s approval as the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council — which approves major developmental projects in provinces — linked the move with CCI’s decision on Sindh’s complainant.

He was referring to Ecnec’s observation on Feb 7, where it stated that the summary submitted by the planning ministry for the “Development of National Irrigation Network for Green Pakistan Initiative” will be “subject to approval by CCI”.

He added that as per the working paper of Saturday’s CDWP meeting, the project, costing Rs211.34bn, will be completed by July 2030.

According to the cost breakdown in the working paper seen by Dawn, Rs 174bn will be spent on construction: Rs76.57bn for the Cholistan Canal, Rs47.6bn for Marot Canal, Rs39.19bn for link canals, Rs 800m for mechanical work and Rs10bn to account for escalation in construction cost.

The remaining amount will be spent on other aspects like afforestation, land acquisition, project management, etc.

According to Mr Shoro, a pre-CDWP meeting held on Sept 2 was told that the capacity of three link canals — Rasul-Qadirabad, Qadirabad-Balloki and Balloki-Sulemanki — would be enhanced to 25,000, 25,000 cusecs and 28,700 cusecs, respectively, to draw water for this project.

“We don’t know the existing capacity of these canals,” he remarked.

The minutes of the Sept 2 meeting said the Cholistan canal was originally conceived to be a non-perennial canal, which doesn’t flow throughout the year.

However, given the needs of this region and the possibility of flow adjustments among various canals in Punjab, the minutes stated, the canal is now planned to be executed as a perennial canal.

In periods where there is no flood, the water for the canal would be diverted from other water bodies and through “departmental adjustments”. Mr Shoro said the term departmental adjustments had not been explained to date.

While referring to the figures — quoted by Punjab — of water flow downstream Kotri, he said the difference between 17.29MAF in the pre-climate change era — in August from 1976 to 1998 — and 6.921MAF — in August from 1999 and 2023 — offers a different picture of Kotri downstream flows pattern.

Punjab has defended the water availability certificate (issued by Irsa in Jan 2024) of 0.449MAF out of flood share in favour of “smaller Cholistan” has been granted from the province’s flood share under para-4 of the Water Apportionment Act 1991.

In its submission to the planning ministry, Punjab claimed that the storage capacity of Bhasha and Mohmand dams would enable it to receive increased flows, which would “enhance existing irrigation systems and ensure sufficient water supply for new projects”.

However, the planning ministry, in its document, stated that the Punjab government has not provided data for water availability from the two reservoirs.

According to Mr Shoro, the document also said the panel of experts appointed by the Centre put the environmental flow of the river (EFR) below Kotri at 8.6 MAF. The data of average flows from 1976 to 2022 create a “mirage” as many years have witnessed meagre EFR and the number of “no flow days” have increased, Mr Shoro said, while quoting the document.

 

Supreme Court seeks report on Nai Gaj Dam delay​


The Supreme Court's constitutional bench has sought a report from the federal government on the delay and costs associated with the Nai Gaj Dam project in Badin.

A six-member bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the case. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail questioned why the dam project remains incomplete.

The construction consortium’s lawyer stated that allocated funds had not been released. Justice Mandokhail criticised the government, saying its inaction burdens the courts. The Additional Advocate General noted that timely funding could ensure project completion.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi pointed out that the project was supposed to finish in two years, but its cost surged from Rs30 billion to Rs100 billion. The lawyer further revealed that the plan is being revised for the third time, citing delays due to floods.

Justice Mandokhail stressed the need for agreement adherence and requested a final timeline and budget after consultations.

The hearing was adjourned for six weeks.

 
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