Pakistan is likely to face a 15% water shortage during the current rabi crop season starting October 1, though it is in a better position than last year and the average availability of the last 10 years.
According to the report of Dawn newspaper, after the meeting of the advisory committee chaired by Chairman of Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Asjad Imtiaz Ali, it was said that the estimate of 15% water shortage during the Rabi crop according to the basin was approved.
The meeting of the committee was convened to determine the expected water availability standards for Rabi 24-2023 (October to March). The meeting included the four members of Ursa from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab, as well as the Federal Flood Commission. Representatives of provinces and Water and Development Authority (WAPDA) participated.
The total water requirement for rabi crops under the 1991 Water Allocation Agreement is about 37 to 28 million acre feet (MAF), but the committee says a potential 31.66 million acre feet at the canal heads. ft (MAF) water availability is about 8% higher than last year’s actual availability of 29.39 MAF and the 10-year average of 29.42 MAF.
The ‘Water Accord’ of 1991 authorizes IRSA to determine the water availability in the country and the share of the provinces twice a year, for the Kharif and Rabi seasons, with the Rabi season beginning on October 1 and ending on March 31. ends while Kharif season starts from 1st April and continues till 30th September.
The expected shortage of water for the recent Rabi season is expected to damage the wheat crop, the major crop in the Rabi season is wheat, other Rabi crops include gram, dal, tobacco, barley and mustard. Included.
The participants of the meeting were informed that due to better flow and effective regulation of available supply, the volume of available water storage for Rabi this year is 11.579 MAF, which is 15% more than the 10-year average and last year’s average. 19 percent higher than the competition.
On the recommendations of the technical committee of IRSA, the meeting approved the expected availability of water at 4 rim stations of 21.92 MAF for Rabi season this year, which is about 8% more than the previous year and about one more than the 10-year average. The percentage is low.
The total availability at the canal heads was thus estimated at 31.66 MAF, so the committee excluded water for Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (which have historically been water scarce due to constraints in their irrigation networks). 29.77 MAF decided to reduce the water share for Punjab and Sindh by 15% based on water availability.
Thus Punjab was allocated a share of 16.97 MAF for the entire rabi crop season, followed by 12.8 MAF for Sindh, 1.18 MAF for Balochistan and 0.71 MAF for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. F allocated.
The participants of the meeting expressed satisfaction with the end of Kharif season on September 30 as better than expected water availability. F is 3 percent higher than forecast volume but 6 percent below the 10-year average of 101.55 MAF.
