Diversion of water by India, Climate change and cessation of IWT due to silting of reservoirs affected Water Accord

Need for changes in Water Accord to match water availability due to above reasons

Water Accord 1991 needs adjustment and changes to match present day water availability that is affected by diversion of water of the six rivers by India, cessation of the Indus Waters Treaty due to silting of Tarbela and Mangla Reservoirs by 6.6 maf, and climate change.

Water Accord 1991, had distributed 117.35 maf of water in para 2 against the availability of 105 maf diverted in to the network of Canal Irrigation System. Water Accord distributed (117.35-105)=12.35 maf of water in advance of building storage. Para 4 requires to create 12.35 maf storage to meet para 2 requirements. The Government of Pakistan has not implemented paras 2, 4, 6 and para 14(e) of the Water Accord for the past 19 years of its promulgation This is the reason, Water Accord remained under inter-provincial dispute.

It also appears, Water Accord para 2 has distributed 117.35 maf of water randomly, not taking in to account the irrigated area and the crops grown in a province. Water Accord para 4 has also fixed a specific ratio for the distribution of floodwater between the provinces without any basis. This aspect of Water Accord may be re-examined, as water has to be distributed on specific basis besides keeping in view future development of provinces. Like the Kachhi plain of Baluchistan, the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Kohat and similar areas in Punjab and Sindh.

Moreover, implementation of para 14(e) is very vital as it requires to avoid all wastage in the wasteful canal system. This needs Integrated Comprehensive Water Management (ICWM) as the existing Canal Irrigation system has become 150 years old, highly wasteful, incompatible, and obsolete. It wastes 50% of water that enters it.

It is unfortunate that the Government did not implement paras 2, 4, 6, and 14(e) of the Water Accord since the creation of IRSA, 19 years ago. Surprisingly no province asked for its implementation though they fight for more water. IRSA too remained inactive. In 1994, when I was Chairman IRSA, about 16 years ago, I requested the Ministry of Water and Power to implement Water Accord paras 2, 4, 6, and 14(e). I wrote a detailed paper on each para for its implementation.    

Water Accord para 14(b) creates confusion to distribute shortages and surpluses. It also clashes with para 4 water ratio distribution and non-availability of 117.35 maf of water in para 2. In view of paras 2, and 4, there seems to be  no need for para 14(b) so as to remove confusion and dispute between the provinces. The water distribution ratio in para 4 should be used in distributing shortages and surpluses.

For practicing irrigated agriculture, perennial source of water is required. This requires dams to regulate the erratic flows of rivers. There are no dam sites on our rivers in our territory, like on the Kabul River, the Chenab River and the Jehlum River. We have only the Indus where there are many dam sites. The Indus River is highly erratic as its flow varies between 9000 cusecs to 1,200,000. Therefore, dams are necessary. Swat River has also one good dam site for storage of water. Water Accord provides to build dams in its paras 2, 4, 6, and 14(e) so as to supply regulated water to crops as and when required in proper dozes.

The appointment of Supreme Court Judge as Chairman IRSA, and the Members IRSA resigning in protest one after the other asking for more water is not the solution to solve the problem of the shortage of water. Dams building is the answer.

Global warming and Climate change

Without the construction of dams, it is impossible to implement Water Accord. Without dams, about 22% of Pakistan is destroyed by the 2010 super flood, caused due to Global warming and Climate change. The river water supply is not regulated as there are no dams on the Indus and Swat Rivers. Climate change will cause havoc when dams are not built. There will be no hydropower when dams are not built. The 2010 flood can hit again if dams are not built. Dams are needed to fight Global warming. Pakistan seems to be least concerned in building  dams. WAPDA gyrates only abut building Kalabagh Dam. India has built dozens of dams in disputed territory the occupied Kashmir, where as Pakistan failed to build dams even for its survival. Curse on those who are sleeping when Pakistan is going dry.

India turned Chenab and Jehlum Rivers dry by diverting waters. These rivers are made seasonal or non-perennial for Pakistan during winter. We will not be able to grow Rabi and early Kharif. This will affect Water Accord as para 2 water will not be available.

The Global Warming and Climate change, cessation of the Indus Water Treaty losing 6.6 maf of storage water, and the absence of dams, require to up date the Water Accord as it will no longer hold good.

Water Accord para 13 states that IRSA is created to implement Water Accord but it is not stated how to implement it when IRSA is powerless having no resources to be able to build dams. This para is incomplete and cofusing. IRSA cannot build 6.6 maf of the lost storage water in Tarbela and Mangla. Chairman WAPDA is the ex-officio Member IRSA but never attended the office of IRSA for consultation. WAPDA office must be shifted to Islamabad so that it remains in close touch with IRSA in implementing Water Accord. In the light of IRSA Act, WAPDA is a component part of IRSA as its Chairman is Member IRSA. It should work in close coordination with IRSA to implement para 13 of the Water Accord.

After the cessation of the Indus Waters Treaty due to the loss of 6.6 maf of storage water, and due to diversion of Chenab and Jehlum Rivers water stopping winter flows to Pakistan for Rabi and Khaif crops, and for not Replenishing the lost storage of 6.6 maf by building dams, the Water Accord will become non-functional. This will create sever problems. There arises the need to revise the Water Accord to adjust to the prevailing situation so that there are no disputes. The remedy to all water issues is Water Management.