Punjab government accuses Sindh of drawing more water than allocated in letter to IRSA

LAHORE: The Punjab government has called on the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to ensure fair water distribution among provinces, accusing Sindh of drawing more water than its allocated share, in what it described as a clear violation of the agreed-upon allocation.

According to a letter dated April 9, 2025, the Punjab government raised concerns after IRSA declared a significant 43% water shortage for the early Kharif 2025 season, allocating only 6.702 million acre-feet (MAF) to Punjab.

This considerable reduction has sparked worries about Punjab’s water security and its agricultural productivity. The Punjab Irrigation Department further revealed that, to manage the situation, the operational criteria for the JC Zone in early Kharif 2025 were reviewed, resulting in limited water releases from the Mangla Dam to 8,000 cusecs, in order to maintain a 60% filling level by June 30, 2025. Despite this, Punjab has struggled to receive its full water allocation.

The Punjab government has accused Sindh of exceeding its water entitlement, exacerbating the water crisis. Reports also suggest underreporting at Sindh’s barrages, raising concerns about the accuracy of the water distribution system. The Punjab government has urged IRSA to ensure accurate and transparent reporting from all Sindh barrages and to closely monitor water shares during the early Kharif season.

Punjab has also requested that the CJ and TP link canals be operationalized to allow the province to access its rightful share from the Indus River. The situation has become critical, with the letter warning of potential unrest and economic hardship if the issue is not addressed immediately.

Punjab’s letter demands that IRSA take urgent action to reassess water shares, ensure transparency in reporting, and halt unnecessary water releases downstream at the Kotri barrage. The province has asked for its allocated water share to be provided without any further reductions or delays. Additionally, IRSA is urged to investigate the discrepancies in water discharge reporting at Sindh’s barrages.

The water crisis in Punjab has reached a critical point, and the Punjab Irrigation Department emphasized the need for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation.

Furthermore, IRSA had earlier reported a 16% shortfall in water supply for both Punjab and Sindh during the Rabi 2024-25 season, with Sindh receiving 19% less water and Punjab facing a 22% shortfall. Despite these shortages, no provision was made for water release downstream from the Kotri barrage.

In a separate investigation, an IRSA representative inspected Sindh’s barrages on February 15, 2025, and found discrepancies. For instance, the Rice Canal was reported as ‘closed’ by Sindh’s Irrigation Department, but it was actually running at 936 cusecs. Similarly, the Dadu Canal was discharging 1,226 cusecs, contrary to the reported 950 cusecs, indicating a discrepancy of 276 cusecs.

Punjab has stated that these issues, including the underreporting and excessive water use in Sindh, directly affect the water share of other provinces, especially Punjab. With both Punjab and Sindh sharing the burden of canal water shortages, the situation calls for immediate action from the authorities to ensure fair distribution and prevent further strain on Punjab’s water resources.

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