Canal Construction and the opposition of Sindh to it

Construction of 6 Canals approved by IRSA—Indus River system authority in 2024

1. Greater Thal Canal (GTC--- Indus river supply water to Punjab

Recent developments regarding canal construction

1. IRSA approved the construction of 6 canals with 4/1 voting . member from center , Baluchistan,
KP and Punjab supported it while member from Sindh opposed
2. Army Chief and CM of Punjab inaugurated the construction Cholistan
3. Protests in Sindh by almost all political parties, religious groups and civil societies.
4. Provincial Assembly of passed a Resolution against the construction of any canal.
5. PTI submitted a resolution in the NA against the unilateral decision of center and Punjab and
demanded a national consensus
6. President of Pak in his speech to the joint parliamentary session criticized the policy of the feeral
govt Punjab govt and stressed on the agreement of all federating units

Stance of Center and Punjab government

1. Pakistan needs to revive and promote its declining agriculture of the country. Agriculture
contributes about 23% to GDP of the country. But because of declining water availability,
destructive floods, Urbanization of agricultural land, declining canal system, lack of modern
agricultural techniques etc are main reasons for decline in agri production of the country.
Therefore, there is a need of reviving the crops production and livestock. There is a need agro-
farming that would focus on increase in crop production on one hand and livestock on the
other. Therefore, these 6 canals must be built the sooner.
2. The construction of Cholistan Canal is prioritied to irrigate more than 1.2 million acre land on
one hand and promote Camel farming on the other.
3. Punjab is the main source of fulfilling the agriculture/food demand of the country. Therefore
Cholistan canal is prioritized.
4. To promote agro-farming , pak needs investment from abroad. China is investing in the agri
sector of south asia and central asia to meet its demand. Pak is one of the favorite destination
for it. Middle Eastern countries are rich but acute shortage agri land and productivity. Therefore
they have import food from across the world. Now ME countries want to acquire land on lease
to protect their food security. Pak is one of the prime destination. All these countries interested
in agro faming in Pakistan under special investement facilitation council –SIFC.
5. Cholistan canal is to built on Sutalj river and not a single drop of water would be take from Indus
river.
6. Sindh receives more water than its share from Indus. Since 1970 Sindh has received more more
than 27 MAF every year which is more than the total need of the province.
Stance of Sindh

1. Almost all the river water across Pakistan Like that of Indus, Chenab, Jehlum, Swat, Kabul, Ravi,
Sultaj are the part of Indus River system as per the agreement of IRSA.
2. Sindh is the share holder of the water of Indus River system.
3. Sutlaj and Ravi Rivers are dried since 1960s because india diverted it with the consent of pak in
the Indus Water Treeaty IWT. Since 2010 only once Sutlaj got major flow into Pak because of the
floods in 2014 water released by India. Other than that, Sutlaj never got substantial water flow
in the last 15 years. It means Cholistan would get major chunk of water from Chenab. That
would result in futher cut in the flow of Chenab and share of Sindh already being usurped by
Punjab since 2000.
4. There has been a dangerous decline in the flow of the IRS in the last 30 years. Sindh quotes
IRSA,ADB, WD figures.. Sindh received 27 MAF from 1970 till 2000 on average. But from 2000 to
24 a sharp decline has occurred in the flow of water into the province which is less than 14 MAF
which less than its needs.
5. The need of Sindh is diverse. Firstly, it needs irrigate the canal based land in whuich more than
20% of such land has already got barren because of shortage of water. Secondly, Mangrow of
Sindh which contributes to total forest cover are dangerously declining above 40% because of
the shortage of water. Thirdly, the livestock in Sindh is in danger. As the decline in
crops/greenary results into lesser food availability for livestock. fourthly, more than 30 % of
Sindh domestic and industrial is dependant on IRS. Finally. Sindh has throw water into the sea in
order to stop the inland incursion towards the coastal belt of Sindh especially, Tata, Badeen etc.
therefore, Sindh must get its due share of water from IRS. To ensure that no new mega projects
should be built on IRS to secure the water need of Sindh.

Stance of Neutral observer ADB, WD, Technocrats

1. Cholistan canal may not be a success story. Canal system is accompanied by the traditional flood
irrigation technique which has not been successful anywhere in the world. For instance India
diverted Ravi and Sutlaj towards Rajistan province mostly desert area. Since 1960s India couldn’t
transform the deserts of rajistan into green land. It is mainly because desert obsorb more water
and obstruct the forward flow.
2. In desert areas morder irrigation technique is a better option. Drip irrigation system has
tremendously worked in desert areas. But to make it efficient, the water must pushed with
pressure which cannot be done by canal system rather through water pumps or supply of water
from water Tanks at height. The government of Punjab and center must focus on utilizing the
untapped water resources in the bed of Sutlaj and Chenab through tubewales.
3. The federalists also opposed any initiative that is oppsed by one or more of the federating units
because it threatens the stability of the country. Sepqaratist movement in Baluchistan is already
a headache for center. There has been increasing security turmoil in KP. The construction of new
canals have resulted into increasing protests in Sindh that would widen the gap between center
and Sindh province. Therefore, before initiating any major project the center must build a
consensus among the provinces to avoid threats for the federation.