Pakistan News And Discussion-14

[Naresh]

[center] <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo--><b><span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Water, food crises loom</span></b> <!--emo&:flush--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' /><!--endemo-->[/center]

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s food security is in extreme danger, as Rabi crops may not get last watering imperative for maturity of crops as the government had forced the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) to release 18,000 cusecs of water from Tarbela Dam for three days for power generation. The move came soon after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, apparently to avoid any further wrath of masses, who were in shock over the tragedy.

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The provinces want release of 3,000 cusecs of water per day, but the water regulator has placed the maturity of Rabi crops in the red zone by excessive release of water. Irsa released 18,000 cusecs of water for three days and is now releasing 10,000 cusecs.

Irsa released excessive water, about 2 million acre feet (MAF), during the Sept 15 to October 20 period, when the water regulator had no members and water distribution was managed by irrigation secretaries of the four provinces.

The loss of 2 million acre feet of water during this period has also aggravated the situation in the country. The inflow in Tarbela dam has also dwindled in the last two days by over 2,000 cusecs per day from 17,000 cusecs to 15,000 cusecs because of less than normal snowfall in the catchment areas of both Tarbela and Mangla dams, which has further worsened When contacted Irsa chief Bashir Ahmad Dhahr said that right now country has 1.7 million acre feet of stored water, much less than the stored water in last year, but better that that of 2004, 2005. He admitted that Irsa released excessive water during three days on December 28-30, but he was quick to add that Irsa will be able to store 60 feet more water in Tarbela and Mangla to ensure the last watering.

When asked as to why Irsa was releasing 10,000 cusecs of water from Tarbela against the demand of only 3,000 cusecs per day, he said that release of that much water was necessary to make Ghazi Barotha Hydropower project operational.

He recalled that two years back, because of less water release from Tarbela reservoir, the Ghazi Barotha Project had to experience some damages. He said, “We are hopeful that country would receive winter rains as forecast by the Met Office from today (January 4) and this will improve the water situation.” Now we are banking on weather to wriggle the country out of impending water crisis, he said

Bashir Dhahr said that wheat-sowing targets have been met and now the issue is to ensure the last watering for maturity of crops. He said this task would also be met keeping in view the winter rains that hopefully are likely to start from today (Jan 4).

He said that Irsa would continue to release 10,000 cusecs of water from Tarbela and 8,000 cusecs from Mangla despite pressure from Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) that wants 15,000 cusecs of water released from Tarbela.

“However, Irsa would enhance water release up to 30,000 cusecs by January 25 as barrages will be opened and closure of canals would end by that time, and in the meanwhile we will be able to store massive water as the country would start receiving winter rain from today (Jan 4) up to Jan 12,” Dhahr said.

“The country, which is already facing 22 percent water shortage and right now, has all time low stored water in reservoirs that stands at 1.76 million acre feet of water. The said quantum of stored water is not enough for last watering of the Rabi crops in all four provinces,” a senior official told The News.

“We are also 100 percent sure that for early Kharif season, Pakistan will be facing the worst ever water crisis, as Irsa will not be able to mange any water as carryover stock for early Kharif, if the existing scenario is kept in view.”

In case, Pakistan receives the winter rains as forecast by the Met Office from today (January 4 to 12), the situation will improve, otherwise the country has no option, but to face massive water deficit that would endanger food security.

The government, which has miserably failed to enhance power generation capacity during the last 8 years, is now left with no option but to risk even the available food security at the cost of unjustified hydro electricity generation despite the fact that dams are built mainly to cater to irrigational requirements of the county.

“We received orders from government to release up to 18,000 cusecs from Tarbela for three days (Dec 28-30) in a bid to bridge electricity deficit so that politically charged masses following the death of Ms Bhutto may not become more aggressive in case of power outages. Now the Pepco is going for 10 to 12 hour load-shedding, but it could not afford such massive load shedding soon after the tragedy.

The water regulator is still under pressure to release 10,000 cusecs of water daily against the demand of federating units of only 3,000 cusecs, just to make Ghazi Barotha Hydropower project operational. But on the other hand, the country’ stored water is fast depleting and may not have water for last watering of Rabi crops.

The official said that below average rains will not provide the required solace to Irsa as it is experiencing 22 per cent water shortage and has no sufficient carryover stocks. Therefore we will have to depend more on nature and pray for more rains, he said.

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