Investigation of John Kerry alarming report on India acquiring ability to store enough water at critical moment in the growing season. perennial Replenishment of 6.5 maf replacement storage by India lost to silting, and unaccounted storage created by India under technical definitions.

Indus Waters Treaty.

In the last meeting the Commissioner Indus Waters Treaty Pakistan informed the committee that India has not created more live storage on our rivers in 32 hydraulic structures, including dams. He said that water stored by India is even less than what is allowed under the Treaty. It is however surprising that all the Daily News papers like DAWN and the NEWS report that India has created much more live storage than as allowed in the 32 hydraulic structures including big dams. At the same time US Senator John Kerry alarming report to US Senate on India acquiring ability to store enough water at critical moment for Rabi and early Kharif indicates scarcity of water to be created by India by holding enough water, as India can limit the supply of water to Pakistan. How one should estimate the quantity of “enough water” that India could with hold to affect Pakistan Rabi supplies that range between 36 to 38 maf? Excerpt from John Kerry report is;

“India has acquired the ability to store enough water to limit the supply of water to Pakistan at critical moment in the growing season”

Senator John Kerry feared water war on this account. It therefore indicates substantial storage. Present water availability situation indicates that there is more than 40 per cent water shortage at the critical moment in this growing season. This creates doubt though one may blame climate change. IRSA has therefore called Advisory Committee meeting on 5^th June to examine the water situation.  John Kerry report indicates creation of enough storage that may affect Rabi and early Kharif. There is therefore need to find true situation,

In order to know the truth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may write to India how much live storage India created from all unaccountable hidden sources under technical definitions.  

I believe unaccountable hidden storage is created by India in the guise of technical definitions, such as, pondage, surcharge storage, operating pool and run-of-river even that includes pond. India may be requested to let us know the aggregate storage on account of technical definitions. This is necessary to know as India does not count storage in this form. The Treaty allows 2.85 maf of water storage to India on our rivers whereas India has created large storage under these definitions as part of design and not as violation of Treaty. India has acquired the ability to store enough water to affect our Rabi and early Kharif crops. The present water shortage has created doubt that India may have created extra storage by adopting a technical trick. The height of dam and its hydraulic design is fixed by India according to their discretion. The Government may investigate to know what John Kerry means by enough water, and how much more storage water, India created under the definitions that are unaccounted.

The storage created under the technical definitions may apply to multipurpose big storage dam but not to a project on run-of-river. The 2.85 maf water storage allowed under the Treaty should also include unaccounted storage created under the technical definitions.

The second issue is Replacement storage created under the Treaty at Tarbela and Mangla have already silted up by 6.5 maf. This has rendered the Treaty inefficacious. The lost replacement storage needs perennial Replenishment to revive the Treaty. Please examine this aspect in detail. The Foreign Ministry may take up the case with India on the two issues.

18 chronic Water issues to be seriously studied.

Besides the above, the 18 vital water issues raised by me may be discussed point by point to reach joint and definite conclusions. Anyone who differs may submit his views in writing. Verbal views have no record.

  

Engr Fateh ullah Khan.  Gandapur.

Former Chairman IRSA                                                                     Dated 31.5.2012

Mobile  0300-5920641                                                                                                                                  

Copy to all Members with reference to the Secretary Water and Power letter No W1-4(20)/2011 dated May 31, 2012 for examination in the light of John Kerry report that India built 32 hydraulic projects including dams and the unknown aggregate storage created by India in these hydraulic structures in the guise of technical terms or definitions like, pondage, surcharge  storage, operating pool and run-of-river.

The repercussions created by 6.5 maf silting of Tarbela and Mangla may also be discussed what next step is to be taken for their perennial replenishment as we surrendered perennial flow to India

.

The allowable storage to be created by India under the Treaty includes all other storage created by the running of hydraulic structures.

Copy to Secretary Water and Power for information.

Copt to Riaz Ahmad Khan Technical Advisor WAPDA House Lahore for information. I request written views of Members may be recorded who have different views for record. The meetings may continue till all 18 water issues are discussed and conclusion arrived.

Warning

The country severely suffers from severe load shedding, this destroyed economy. The country suffers from acute water shortage, rapid silting of reservoirs, injurious salinity and sodicity, devastating floods, huge water losses. It suffers from wrong planning and inefficiency that creates indefinite controversies. KBD controversy, Kachi Canal shifting alignment, wrong project concepts adopted in SCARPs, NDP, lack of sub-surface and sub-surface drainage, and no water management. These water issues and others are to be solved.