Kharif 2000 River Water
Distribution and Management
by
The Reformers
Water Management and Distribution Committee:
Chairman: Engr. A. N. G. Abbasi
Members: Engr. Shaikh Manzoor Ahmed
Engr. Kazi Abdul Majid
Engr. Qamaruddin Sahto
Syed Syed Qamar uz Zaman Shah
December 2000
The Reformers
KHARIF 200 - RIVER WATER DISTRIBUTION & MANAGEMENT
1. Introduction
Pakistan depends almost entirely on the flows of the three western rivers of Indus system for its requirements of irrigated agriculture. The flow pattern of our rivers is however highly erratic. This is evident from the fact that the highest annual flows in the western rivers in the recorded history since the year 1922-23 was 186.76 MAF in the year 1959-60 as against the minimum of 97.4 MAF in the year 1974-75. The maximum Kharif water availability was 154.74 MAF during 1959-60 against the minimum of 79.4 MAF in the year 1974-75. The water according to requirements / allocations of the existing canal systems is therefore not available during the years of low flows in the rivers. In such a situation the shortages have to be shared equitably.
2. Basis for sharing of shortage of river water
2.1. The Indus Water Accord was signed by the provinces on 16 March 1991, soon after it was ratified by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The paras 14(a) and (b) of the Water Accord lay down the basis for sharing the shortages and surpluses of river water. These paras of the Water Accord are reproduced below: -
14 (a) The system-wise allocation will be worked out separately, on ten daily basis and will be attached with this agreement as part and parcel of it.
14 (b) The record of actual average system uses for the period 1977-82, would form the guidelines for developing a future regulation pattern. These ten daily uses would be adjusted pro-rata to correspond to the indicated seasonal allocations of the different canal systems and would form the basis for sharing shortages and surpluses on all Pakistan basis.
2.2. The above provisions of the Water Accord are quite clear, specific and unambiguous. The Accord clearly and specifically lays down that the actual average system uses for the period 1977-82 would form the "GUIDE LINE FOR DEVELOPING" a future regulation pattern. These ten daily uses would be adjusted to correspond to the indicated seasonal allocations of different canal systems and would form the BASIS for sharing shortages and surpluses on all Pakistan basis. The ten daily system wise allocations were worked out accordingly in the year 1991 and were made part and parcel of the Accord after approval of the CCI. The sharing of the surpluses and shortages cannot therefore be made on any other basis than that clearly laid down in the Water Accord.
2.3. Since the signing of the Water Accord, the sharing of shortages and surpluses of river water was being made in accordance with the above mentioned clear and specific provisions of the Accord. However in recent years, these specific provisions of the Water Accord have been flagrantly violated and some other formula of "historic uses" used for water sharing to the detriment of the lower riparian provinces. There is no mention whatsoever of "historic uses" anywhere in the Accord. The provision of paras 14(a) and (b) of the Accord are the only operative cannons of the Accord, which if violated will result in the whole Accord becoming redundant and meaningless. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has been set up under para 13 of the Accord for the implementation of the Accord. This Authority being the custodian of the Accord, has the responsibility to ensure that the Accord provisions are faithfully followed. Neither IRSA, nor any other authority is empowered to go against clear and specific provisions of the Accord.
3. Distribution of water during Kharif 2000
3.1. In Kharif 2000, the water availability in the rivers was very low. This situation required that the available water should have been managed properly and the shortages shared equitably in accordance with the Accord. However there were serious complaints from growers of lower riparian provinces i.e. Sindh and Balochistan regarding improper and inequitable management and distribution of water. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyse the available data to assess the situation. In this respect, the details of water supplied to the provinces, by IRSA/WAPDA, on 10 daily basis compared to the Accord allocation have been collected.
3.2. A statement showing province wise Water Accord allocations and actual withdrawals during Kharif 2000 is given in Annexure I. A close study of statement reveals the following: -
(i) Against the Water Accord allocation of 74.665 MAF, the total canal withdrawals of the four provinces during Kharif 2000 were 55.705 MAF which was 25.4% less than the Accord allocation. (Allocations of the four provinces during Kharif under the Water Accord below rim stations are 77.34 MAF, but the allocations indicated by IRSA in Table at Annexure I are shown as 74.665 MAF. This is due to some variations in the figure of allocations for NWFP as shown in the IRSA statement, which is different from the Accord figures. However since there has been no complaint whatsoever from NWFP, the figures given by IRSA are not being disputed at this stage). The above figures show that a quantity of 21.635 MAF less than the Water Accord allocations (18.960 MAF less according to IRSA figures) was supplied to the provinces during the season.
(ii) Punjab got 29.497 MAF against their allocation of 37.059 MAF, which is 20.4%, less; Sindh got 23.81 MAF against their allocation of 33.936 MAF, which is 29.9% less; Balochistan got 1.6564 MAF against their allocation of 2.847 MAF, which is 41.9% less and NWFP got 0.774 MAF against their accord allocation of 0.823 MAF, which is 6.0% less. Thus the lower riparian provinces of Sindh and Balochistan have been the worst sufferers.
(iii) During the various 10 daily periods of Kharif 2000 (excluding month of April when there was general shortage and no water in storages), the extent of reduced supplies of 20% and above to the four provinces is given in the table below
Shortage Punjab Sindh Balochistan NWFP
Above 50% --- 3 1 ---
Between 50% to 40% 1 1 6 ---
Between 40% to 30% 1 2 2 ---
Between 30% to 20% --- 3 5 ---
Total 20% and above
(out of 15 10-daily periods,
May to September) 2 9 14 Nil
The above table indicates that the lower riparian provinces of Sindh and Balochistan have suffered to great extent particularly during crucial sowing and maturity periods.
4. Basic principles of regulation of reservoirs and Indus Link Canals
4.1. A reservoir is like a water bank where water is stored when it is surplus and withdrawn when it is needed. As such the basic principle for regulation of reservoirs is that water has to be stored when it is surplus to the requirements/allocations of the present canal systems during Kharif season to be utilized subsequently during periods of shortage. In no case the water is to be stored in the reservoirs when the available flows are not enough to meet the current requirements/allocations. Moreover during the Kharif season the reservoirs have to be operated for balancing, so that the fluctuations in the river flows are absorbed in the reservoirs and steady flow maintained in the rivers downstream even during shortage period.
4.2. The Indus Link Canals have to be operated for transfer of Indus Water to the tributaries when the water available in Indus is more than the allocations of the canals on that system and the water in the tributary rivers is less than the allocations of the canals on that system.
5. Actual operation of reservoirs during Kharif 2000
5.1. From the operational data of Kharif 2000, the following points regarding operation of reservoirs and Link Canals have been noticed: -
(i) Inspite of very low water availability in the rivers, water was stored in Mangla and Tarbela reservoirs in a free style without any regard to the current allocations/requirements, particularly of lower riparian provinces. At the end of the season, Tarbela reservoir was full to capacity and Mangla was also almost full. A total of about 13-14 MAF of water was stored, though the Canals Systems received nearly 21 MAF less during the season.
(ii) The storage in Mangla reservoir was started on 14th April 2000 when there was acute shortage of water in the rivers and there was growing demand in Sindh where sowing season starts early. The storage in Mangla continued unabated throughout Kharif season, inspite of severe shortage of water in lower provinces.
(iii) Similarly the water was stored in Tarbela in shortage period during July II and III, August III and September when there was peak demand and acute shortage of water in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.
5.3. A statement showing the water stored in Mangla and Tarbela reservoirs when the water availability in river was much less than required to meet with the allocations is enclosed as Annexure II. This statement reveals that 2.701 MAF of water was stored in Mangla reservoir and 3.410 MAF was stored in Tarbela reservoir i.e. total of 6.111 MAF was stored during the extreme shortage periods. The effects of shortage of water could have been mitigated to a great extent if the storage was not done in such an arbitrary manner. The lower riparian provinces bore the brunt of this gross misregulation.
6. Release of water from reservoirs during September 2000 and its utilization
6.1. A quantity of 1.186 MAF water was released from Tarbela reservoir during September II and further quantity of 1.266 MAF was released during September III. Thus a total quantity of 2.452 MAF was released from Tarbela during September 2000. In addition a quantity of 0.474 MAF was also released from Mangla during September 2000. This water was released notwithstanding the fact that during the shortage period in April to July when there was acute shortage of water in lower provinces, no water was released from the reservoirs and on the contrary it was being stored particularly in Mangla Dam.
6.2. During the same period September II and III a quantity of 1.044 MAF of water was diverted from the River Indus through C.J. link and T.P. link canals. Thus large portion of water released from Tarbela during September II and III was diverted through the Indus Link Canals though the lower provinces of Sindh and Balochistan faced acute shortage of water during this crucial maturity period of crops. Moreover 0.474 MAF of water released from Mangla during September was also totally utilized in the upper regions. A statement showing the water released from Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs during Kharif 2000 and diverted through Indus Link Canals is givn in Annexure III.
7. Operation of Indus Link Canals during Kharif 2000
7.1. As explained above, the Indus Link Canals are to be opened if and when the water available in Indus is more than the allocations of the canals settled on the system and the water available in the tributaries is less than the allocations of canals settled on that system. However the Indus Link Canals (C.J. link and T.P. link) were opened on 28/29 April 2000 at a time when there was acute shortage of water in Sindh during crucial sowing period of cotton. Strangely enough, at the same time when links were opened, water was being stored in Mangla reservoir, from which it is evident that there was no shortage of water in the tributary system to justify the opening of Link Canals.
7.2. Moreover the link canals were opened by reducing the water downstream Chashma and Taunsa Barrages instead of waiting for the river to rise so that the opening of the Link Canals would not have affected the downstream water users in the lower riparian areas in Sindh and Balochistan. Due to opening of the link canals in the end of April, heavy negative fluctuations were passed downstream which resulted in huge reduction of discharge at Gudu Barrage in early May even below the previous level which was already much less than required according to the allocations.
7.3. The Indus Link Canals (C.J. and T.P. Link) continued to operate almost throughout the season inspite of acute shortage of water in the lower riparian provinces. A statement showing the diversion of water from Indus through the Link Canals is enclosed as Annexure IV. This shows that huge quantity 6.173 MAF of water was diverted through the Link Canals.
8. Heavy fluctuations caused due to misregulation of river water in reservoirs
8.1. As stated above the purpose of a reservoir is to store surplus water of Kharif for use during subsequent shortage periods. Also the reservoir is used for balancing of the available river water during Kharif season itself so that fluctuations in river flows are absorbed in the reservoir and steady flow maintained downstream. However during Kharif 2000 heavy fluctuations were passed downstream Chashma/Taunsa Barrages which resulted in irregular and erratic supplies at Gudu Barrage and caused further damage to the crops in Sindh and Balochistan. It also created problems in regulation and management of the rotation programs. Some details of the fluctuations during different 10 daily periods of Kharif 2000 are given in Annexure IV.
9. Adverse effects of mismanagement of water distribution and misregulation of reservoirs and Indus Link Canals
(1) The sowing of Kharif crops in Sindh and Balochistan particularly cotton and rice was delayed by more than one month.
(2) The area under Kharif crops was reduced.
(3) Due to late sowing and insufficient water after sowing and during maturity period the yield of the crops was reduced.
(4) Heavy fluctuations even during shortage period caused further difficulties in regulating the water and enforcing rotation programme.
10. Conclusions
(i) The river water has been grossly mismanaged and misregulated during Kharif 2000.
(ii) Sindh and Balochistan have been deprived of due share of water under the Water Accord during Kharif 2000.
(iii) Water was stored in Mangla and Tarbela reservoirs to the extent of 13-14 MAF though the Canal Systems received 21 MAF less than their allocations during the season. Out of this quantity, 6.111 MAF of water was stored during the periods when there was acute shortage of water in Sindh and Balochistan. Water was also diverted through Indus Link Canals (C.J. and T.P. Links) at times when there was severe shortage of water in Sindh and Balochistan and they were not receiving their due share of water according to their allocations. The Link Canals were opened in April 2000 by reducing the already short water quantity, which was being supplied to lower riparian provinces at that time.
(iv) Heavy fluctuations were passed downstream Chashma/Taunsa barrages, which created further problems for Sindh and Balochistan.
(v) IRSA/WAPDA are responsible for this mal-distribution and mismanagement of river water. The Federal Government also did not exercise adequate control over these organizations to ensure proper management and equitable distribution of river water.
11. Recommendations
(i) The compensation should be paid to Sindh and Balochistan for the losses suffered due to less supply of water than their share under the Accord and for the damage caused due to misregulation and mal-distribution. The Federal Govt. should quantify the losses in consultation with Governments of Sindh and Balochistan.
(ii) Atleast 2 MAF out of the water stored in the reservoirs during shortage period of Kharif 2000 should be earmarked for Sindh and Balochistan to be utilized in the same ratio as per Accord allocation. Only the remaining quantity of the storage water should be shared by all the provinces.
(iii) The Federal Govt. should ensure that the story of Kharif 2000 is not repeated and that the provinces get their due share of water according to the clear specific and unambiguous provisions of paras 14 (a) and (b) of the Water Accord.
(iv) The Federal Govt. should fix responsibility on the officers responsible for the gross mal-distribution and mismanagement of river water, reservoirs and Link Canals during Kharif 2000 and award exemplary punishment to them.
(v) IRSA, WAPDA and Provincial Irrigation Departments should bring all the information and data including regulation instructions/decisions about rivers, reservoirs, link canals and barrages on the Internet on 10 daily basis to make their working transparent and more efficient.
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PROVINCE WISE WATER ACCORD ALLOCATIONS AND ACTUAL WITHDRAWLS KHARIF 2000 |
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Punjab Province |
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Sindh Province |
Baluchistan Province |
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N.W.F.P Province |
Total Below Rim Stations |
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Period |
Actual Wdls |
Accord Allocation |
Less / More % |
Actual Wdls |
Accord Allocation |
Less / More % |
Actual Wdls |
Accord Allocation |
Less / More % |
Actual Wdls |
Accord Allocation |
Less / More % |
Actual Wdls |
Accord Allocation |
Less / More % |
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April-1 |
36.0 |
60.3 |
-40.3% |
21.1 |
40.2 |
-47.5% |
0.0 |
2.3 |
-100.0% |
1.9 |
2.1 |
-9.5% |
59.0 |
104.9 |
-43.8% |
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April-2 |
38.1 |
64.7 |
-41.1% |
23.2 |
41.3 |
-43.8% |
0.0 |
1.3 |
-100.0% |
1.9 |
1.7 |
11.8% |
63.2 |
109.0 |
-42.0% |
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April-3 |
42.6 |
82.5 |
-48.4% |
25.1 |
39.9 |
37.1% |
0.0 |
0.4 |
-100.0% |
1.9 |
1.2 |
58.3% |
69.6 |
124.0 |
-43.9% |
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MAF |
2.314 |
4.115 |
-43.8% |
1.376 |
2.407 |
-42.8% |
0.000 |
0.079 |
-100.0% |
0.113 |
0.099 |
14.0% |
3.803 |
6.701 |
-43.2% |
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May-1 |
58.5 |
93.7 |
-37.8% |
27.1 |
51.1 |
-47.0% |
0.0 |
0.7 |
-100.0% |
2.0 |
1.9 |
5.3% |
87.6 |
147.4 |
-40.6% |
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May-2 |
80.8 |
100.8 |
-19.8% |
24.4 |
61.1 |
-60.5% |
1.0 |
1.8 |
-44.4% |
2.2 |
2.1 |
4.8% |
108.4 |
166.4 |
-34.9% |
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May-3 |
102.7 |
104.8 |
-2.0% |
58.2 |
77.4 |
-24.4% |
2.8 |
3.2 |
-12.5% |
2.3 |
2.3 |
0.0% |
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