WAPDA interfered with Riwaj-e-abpashi by
reducing the legal water share of Gandapurs of Tehsil Kulachi by half, and illegally
increased the share of Tank Tehsil by 13 times, though Tank Tehsil is not
entitled for Gomal Zam flood water.
The Gandapurs in search of Justice
for water rights—the source of their living for centuries.
Water rights history of Gandapurs
Gomal Zam is notorious for
causing flood havoc in Tehsil Kulachi. This very area has a history of
irrigation from Gomal Zam hill torrents ever since 300 years B.C. The Gandapurs
expelled ‘Kulachi Balochs’ from this area. The city of Kulachi was developed by
‘Kulachi Baloch’ named Hussain Khan. The Gandapures were a Pawinda tribe. They
came from the hills east of Kandahar in search of water and settled along the
banks of Luni Stream, the major branch
of Gomal River, about 450 years ago. Gomal Zam floodwater branches and spans
all over the Gandapur area of Kulachi Tehsil. This is why the soil of Kulachi
Tehsil is formed of deposited silt from the floodwater of Gomal Zam. Kulachi
was once a flourishing trade center and a fertile area as it was irrigated by
floodwater of Gomal Zam. It produced the sweetest melons in the world. Kulachi was
an agriculture city.
The Town of Kulachi was severely
damaged by the record flood of 1955 by Gomal Zam River. Gomal Zam floodwater
has eroded the soil of Kulachi Tehsil and formed ravines/Khads by the force of
floodwater. This history shows that Gomal Zam was irrigating the whole area of
Kulachi Tehsil by its floods and was the most productive area in food grains in
the district. Its people used to go up to
Calcutta for trading.
But the un-control floodwaters of
Gomal Zam destroyed this green area by land erosion and ravines formation,
changing the course of its flow, shifting flood irrigated area every now and
then, after breaching the Rod Kohi bunds
built under the Rod Kohi System of irrigation and then release floodwater to
the downstream area for more irrigation. As a result the agriculture produce
became uncertain as there was no control on the furious floods. As such, the
people focused on education and now there are a big number of highly educated
Gandapurs spread all over the world. Most of them are Doctors, engineers and in
various other professions and businesses.
The British officers reduced all
the working of floodwater irrigation, called Rod Kohi irrigation to writing during the “Land Settlement” in 1880
and 1908. Mr Bolton irrigation Notes of
1908 are still considered as the Bible of Rod Kohi irrigation system. The
British officers who fixed the water rights of Gandapurs in Gomal Zam. For
this, the then British Government prepared the ‘Riwaj-e-Abpashi, kulyat, fixing water rights of the whole area under
the command of Gomal River, in 1880, 1908. The Riwaj-e-abpashi covered the area
of Gandapurs where Gomal River floodwater spreads. D.I.Khan, its lower riparian
area was also given its floodwater share in Gomal River.
Herbert Edwards said “Let me remind my readers that they need not go to
Kulachi, unless they are in search of two things, namely brave soldiers and
very sweet melons”.
Water rights of Gandapurs in
floodwater of Gomal Zam were
confirmed and finalized in settlement
by Mr Bolton in his last settlement report in 1908. This final report confirms that floodwater belongs to
Gandapurs, and to a few villages in Dera Tehsil. The floodwater of Gomal River has
its outfall in the Indus River. Kulachi Town formed the pivotal center of flood irrigation from Gomal Zam.
The 63 Km long main canal should
have passed through the Town of Kulachi. Surprisingly, this is ignored due to
poor knowledge of WAPDA. WAPDA deprived Kulachi Tehsil of its floodwater share as
it failed to cover the legal and entitled area for the use of floodwater stored
in Gomal Reservoir. Till recently Gandapurs of Kulachi Town were under the
destructive hit of the furry of Gomal Zam. Now, when the Gomal Zam is
controlled after the construction of Khajuri Katch Dam, a spectacular Dam site discovered
by Engineer Fateh ullah Khan Gandapur in
1959, the storage water that belongs to Gandapurs
are gifted by WAPDA to the people of Tank who are not at all entitled to
receive floodwater as under the Riwaj-e-abpashi the floodwater belongs to
Gandapurs.
The LUNI River bed remained the source of drinking water for the
people of Kulachi Town for centuries. The area around Kulachi is irrigated by
the floodwater of Gomal Zam in Luni Stream.
Kaur Nullah in Tank is not the
branch of Gomal Zam. It gets rainwater and feeds a few villages in Tank Tehsil.
The floodwater of Gomal Zam spreads into many branches in Kulachi Tehsil.
Gomal River feeds Kot Azam,
nullah Naskor, nullah Cross wait (the
name of British Revenue Officer), Bolton Wah (another British revenue officer)
and Khad Amani. All these branches of floodwater irrigated Gandapur area of
Kulachi Tehsil under the Rod Kohi system.
Historical facts establishes, the water rights of Gandapurs on Gomal River
since 1880, irrigating an area of 143660 acres. Similarly, the Gomal Zam floodwater
irrigates 30328 acres in Dera Tehsil from LUNI
River, the main branch of Gomal River. Now by the construction of CRBC,
about 20335 acres of Dera Tehsil is irrigated by the CRBC and the remaining
area of 9993 acres still depends on the floodwater of Gomal Zam. As a result, the
water share of 20335 acres will now be attached to Gandapur area.
As such, the floodwater of Gomal
Zam will now irrigate (143660+20335)= 163325 acres of Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil.
The Gomal Dam floodwater must cover 163325 acres of Kulachi Tehsil. This is the
core area of the Project for
irrigation under the Rod Kohi irrigation system. This established area must be
included in the PC-I, and the canal system remodeled accordingly to cover 163,325 acres by the network of
canals in Kulachi Tehsil.
It is immaterial, if the
floodwater of this area is sufficient or not, it must uniformly cover an area
of 163,325 acres in the project boundary, and this area be included in the CCA
and the PC-I as per the water rights of Kulachi Tehsil and as per the Riwaj-e-Abpashi/Kuliyat of 1880, and
1908 and as per Settlement. As such,
the floodwater share comes to as follows:-
Lands entitle to receive Gomal Zam River
water
* Kulachi Tehsil (143660+20335)= 163325 acres
* D.I.Khan Tehsil (9993 acres).
*Tank Tehsil (700 acres)
The Khajuri Katch dam site for Gomal
Zam was discovered by Engr Fateh Ullah
Khan Gandapur in 1959 as the then Project Director Gomal Zam. He also
discovered the dam site for Tank Zam at
Hanis Tangi and for all other hill torrents. Engr Fateh ullah Khan is the discoverer of 12 multipurpose maga dams in
Pakistan when he was incharge of Dams Investigation Division. Tank Zam
will shortly be built as it is already approved for construction.
The centuries old established
Riwaj-e-abpashi shows that 90% floodwater of Gomal Zam belongs to Gandapurs of
Kulachi Tehsil.
Please refer to Assistant
Commissioner Tank letter No: 319/NTI dated October 14, 1975. He said that
maximum amount of Kalapani, (perennial water) from Gomal Zam belongs to Tank
Tehsil. He did not mention the Floodwater of Gomal Zam. Tank Tehsil is entitled
to 30 ‘Jandar’ of perennial
water that is about 30 cusecs of Kalapani and not the Floodwater from Gomal
Zam. A discharge greater than 30 ‘Jandar’ is considered as
floodwater.
Please watch the confusing and
interfering behavior of WAPDA that plays political role under political
influence by ignoring the Centuries old established floodwater rights of
Gandapurs of Kulachi from Gomal Zam. WAPDA has illegally imposed its own whimsical
and illegal decision of floodwater distribution from Gomal Zam in the garb of intensity of irrigation. WAPDA does not know the Riwaj-e-abpashi as
90% floodwater of Gomal Zam belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi. WAPDA should have planned
and built network of canal system accordingly. The Gandapurs settled in this area about 500 years ago in search of
water. They settled in Kulachi Tahsil along the bank of LUNI River, major branch of Gomal River
about 450 years ago. They depend for living on Gomal River floodwater for
irrigating their lands. This is why they settled on the Bank of the Luni River as that area was fertile. It
is not understood, why WAPDA a mere contractor in status is interfering in the
Riwaj-e-abpashi and changing the nature of Gomal River flow. Please see data
below.
Illegal distribution of Gomal floodwater
by WAPDA violating the Riwaj 1880
The Gomal Zam storage water of 381
cusecs out of 848 cusecs is illegally allotted by WAPDA on the basis of three intensities of irrigation that amounts to
cheating. It is bizarre. Tank has no water rights in Gomal floodwater.
·
Tank
45% equal to 381 cusecs
·
Kulachi 50% equal to 425 cusecs
·
Dera
5% equal to 42
cusecs
The Riwaje-abpasi’s authorized
distribution of Gomal Zam water as
follows:-
·
Kulachi Tehsil (143669+20335)= 163325 acres. (Water
share 811 cusecs) but given 425 cusecs.
·
Tank Tehsil
(700 acres) (but Water share given
381 cusecs) against only 30 cusecs (30
Janders)
·
Dera
Tehsil (9993 acrse) water 42 cusecs.
It may be noted that Kulachi Tehsil has 90% share of Floodwater from
Gomal Zam whereas, WAPDA gave 50% floodwater ie 425 cusecs against 811 cusecs.
Using the trick of intensity of
irrigation to raise the floodwater share of Tank.
Please watch the trick of “intensity of irrigation” played by
WAPDA with the water rights of Gandapurs by usurping the floodwater of
Gandapurs, and favoring the people of Tank
Tehsil that has only 30 cusecs perennial water share of water rights but is given
381 cusecs share in Gomal floodwater. The trick lies in the induction of three different cropping intensities
that is 120%, 100%, and 60%. This will result in inequitable distribution of
water rights on the same canal though the Riwaj-e-abpashi
provides equal water rights for all the land holders. Those who are allowed
120% intensity of irrigation will get two times more floodwater than those who
are allowed 60% intensity of irrigation on the same canal. It is pointed out
that there is no concept of distributing water on the basis of varying
intensities of irrigation in the Riwaj-e-abpashi when people have equal water
rights. Cropping intensity on this project governed by Riwaj-e-abpashi is absolutely
irrelevant, as water is governed by the Riwaj-e-abpashi that cannot be
violated. Let the farmers increase water
use efficiency by adopting Sprinkler and Drip irrigation methods to increase
intensity of irrigation as far as possible with the same quantity of water as
the storage water is crystal clear and the land is ideal. Besides this, resort
to “pipe Supply” replacing water courses to save seepage and evaporation
losses.
It is surprising that Gandapures
share in floodwater is arbitrarily reduced
by half and the share of Tank Tehsil
is illegally increase by about 13 times. (381 cusecs divided by 30
Jander/cusecs)= 13 times. All this is
under the pretext of intensity of irrigation.
It may be noted that WAPDA is merely a contractor to obey the orders
of the client, the owners of water, and the irrigation Department. WAPDA has no
legal authority to change the Riwaj-e-abpashi. It cannot interfere with the
Riwaj-e-abpashi and with the water rights of the people as established since
1880 and 1908. The Riwaj-e-abpshi is sacrosanct and no one can alter this. It
shows WAPDA has knowingly committed a
crime that has sown the seeds of water war, disputes, law and order problem between
the people of Kulachi and the people of Tank that will result in bloodshed.
This is extremely malicious and wicket to interfere in the Riwaj-e-abpashi and in
the water rights of the people. The Government should take immediate notice to
avert the ugly law and order situation.
It is warned that the time-based Gomal Dam storage will lose its
storage capacity due to silting when irrigation from the storage reservoir will
stop due to water disputes. The disputes will disrupt its functioning that
may continue for years when rapid silting of reservoir will reduce its storage
capacity. This will be a terrible blow to the Project. The discharge of 848
cusecs will be reduced by silting to a lower discharge that will hurt the
farmers. “It is said “the death of the
reservoir starts the day it is built”. WAPDA would be held responsible for
destroying the Gomal Dam Project by poking its nose in the Riwaj-e-abpashi, illegally
reducing the water rights of Gandapurs by half though it has no concern with
the Riwaj-e-abpashi.
It is very vital that all the network of canal irrigation system should
be redesigned to carry water as per the water rights of the area forgetting the
cropping intensity. Canals designed on the basis of 60% intensity of
irrigation should be redesigned and remodeled to carry water as per the water
rights of the area. The Gandapur area of Kulachi, about 163325 acres, must be
brought under the command of canal system and provided water as per its share
in the Riwaj.
Please refer to letter No:
18286/Rev dated 10.11.1973 from Secretary
Board of Revenue. It states that Tank, Kulachi and D.I.Khan are entitled to
get water from Gomal Zam according to the manner recorded in the record of
rights, Kuliyat/Riwaj-e-abpashi as per last settlement in 1968.
Minutes of the Provincial coordination Committee (PCC) on Gomal
Zam dated 14.10.2002
The committee said, Gomal Zam
floodwater and perennial water has historical and established water rights
based on the Rewaj-e-abpashi/Kuliyat. It further said, the inclusion of land in the CCA having no water rights, and the
excluded area having water rights, may lead to litigation, law and order
problem and result in delaying the completion of the project. This should be
set right at once.
To avoid litigation and
bloodshed, it is essential that lands having water rights are confirmed by
WAPDA from Revenue Authorities of both the districts before fixing alignment/chaks
of canal system. WAPDA disregarded all these clear instructions issued by the
PCC.
The Project Director Irrigation last month revealed that revenue
record shows that 107 Mouzas have water rights on Gomal Zam for Kulachi Tehsil,
against this, 67 Mouzas have been considered in the planning of irrigation
system within the project boundary. It is said; this blunder is committed by
WAPDA under political influence at the cost of Gandapurs. It needs correction
at the earliest. Water should not be released till the bitter problem is
corrected. WAPDA has committed a crime of theft, loss of trust, and lack of
responsibility.
During the planning of irrigation
system by WAPDA, it was estimated that the average inflow is 674Mm/year whereas
the network of canal system within the Project boundary is estimated to use
only 400Mm/year. This shows the remaining inflow of 200Mm/year is diverted to
unauthorized areas. This will not be available to Kulachi Tehsil to cover the
area of 107 Mouzas. It appears that the
water rights area of Rod Kohi of Kulachi Tehsil is intentionally ignored. It appears WAPDA has usurped water rights of
(107-67)=40 Mouzas of Kulachi Tehsil and gifted it to Tank Tehsil illegally.
The Project Director WAPDA said, the aspect of water rights was
considered in the Feasibility study by the Consultant MS Cyne-et-Biller and the water rights area is completely covered / included
in the CCA.
But the Project Director Irrigation was not satisfied with the indirect
and vague reply of the P.D. WAPDA in the first meeting of the PCC. P.D.
irrigation wanted more assurance and further confirmation. P.D. irrigation said
water rights must be confirmed as it is supreme, and shall be fully safeguarded.
He further emphasized that WAPDA will be responsible for including and
protecting the water rights of the land having water rights of Gomal River
water. This was WAPDA’s responsibility. Unfortunately, WAPDA did not listen to
any one, and large area of Kulachi Tehsil is ignored and not given their water
rights as provided in the Riwaj-e-abpashi. Thus WAPDA violated the 1880
established water rights of Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil.
The PC I initially adopted 86.5 %
intensity of irrigation on Gomal Zam for the entire CCA of 66000 ha. This is a
uniform intensity of irrigation based on equal water distribution as per the
Riwaj-e-abpashi. Refer to pages 28, 29. But,
the Riwaj-e-abpashi does not mention the intensity of irrigation as there was
no such concept. It was rather mentioned that floodwater area has more floodwater rights on storage water than
the area getting perennial flow under Gomal Zam as the dam is built to store
floodwater. In the use of floodwater under the Rod Kohi System of Irrigation,
there was no concept of intensity of irrigation.
Varying intensities of irrigation
results in inequitable distribution of floodwater that violates the
Riwaj-e-abpashi. This must be understood by WAPDA who are ignorant of these Centuries
old established customs and at the same time do not obey the instructions of others.
The Project Director Irrigation said the adoption of higher
intensity of irrigation of 120%, 100%, and 60% is not justified according to
the Riwaj-e-abpashi because water rights are equitable for all areas. It is not
required to introduce varying intensities of irrigation in Gomal Zam Project by
WAPDA. This is because, 90% floodwater belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi as per
Riwaj-e-abpashi. WAPDA has wrongly built canal network, providing floodwater on
the basis of varying cropping intensities. This needs to be set right.
WAPDA has therefore wasted
billions of Rupees and time besides inciting
disputes and law and order problems. This is because on the same canal one area will illegally get 13 times
more water than its share, whereas the other deserving area will get half of
its legal share in clear violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi. The P.D.
Irrigation did not agree with the P.D.
WAPDA, as varying cropping intensities will create disparity, and unequal
distribution of water in water rights, that is not just, as it violates the
Riwaj-e-abpashi. This will create water
war, disputes, litigations and in-fighting. This will cause great harm to the time-based storage Project of Gomal
Zam. WAPDA has clearly violated the water rights as provided in the
Riwaj-e-abpashi/Kuliyat and the ‘Bandobast’.
This needs immediate correction before
the water is released in the canal system otherwise, it will create terrible
law and order problems.
The illegality of varying intensities of
irrigation in the Riwaj-e-abpashi where the land owners have equal floodwater
rights.
It is pointed out that intensity
of irrigation in Gomal Zam floodwater is absolutely irrelevant as floodwater
rights are equally distributed on the whole area under the Riwaj-e-abpashi. Varying
cropping intensities negates this basic principle of the water rights in the
Riwaj-e-abpashi. WAPDA officials are foreign to understand and appreciate the
local established water rights as provided in the Riwaj-e-abpashi enforced since
1880. Over and above this, WAPDA is obstinate to force its wrong wish, not
realizing what the client, the owners of water, the Irrigation Department, and
the local concerned peoples repeatedly say. The project should not be based on
inequitable distribution of floodwater rights for illegally enforcing varying
cropping intensities. The Court may
direct WAPDA to stop its further activities till it restores water rights in
floodwater of Gomal Zam as per the Riwaj-e-abpashi / Kulyat of 1880 and 1908
and as per Land Settlement.
The crux of the matter and the ground
facts to be followed are:-
·
Gomal River floodwater storage is fixed as 848
cusecs.
·
The Riwaj-e-abpashi distributes and provides
equal/uniform floodwater rights to all areas in Kulachi Tehsil and for Der
villages.
·
The legal area to receive floodwater of Kulachi
Tesil is known and is fixed in the CCA.
·
There is no concept of varying intensities of
irrigation in the Riwaj-e-abpashi as it results in inequitable distribution of
floodwater. The Riwaj distributes uniform floodwater of Gomal Zam on all areas
under its girdles/zone. What is the authority to defy these rules.
·
Tank Tesil has no floodwater share from Gomal
Reservoir. Tank Tehsil has 30 cusecs /
30 Jandars of perennial floe from Gomal Zam.
·
Tank Tehsil has its own Major River named Tank Zam shortly to be built.
The details of water rights of Gandapurs
as per Riwaj are given as follows:-
* Kulachi Tehsil water rights areas as per
Riwaj-e-abpashi. (143660+20335)=163325 acres.
* D.I.Khan area (30328 acres). Out of this CRBC
covered 20335 acres. Remaining 9993 acres to be irrigated from the floodwater of Gomal Zam
in Kulachi Tehsil being upper riparian. .
* Tank Tehsil has 700 acres to be irrigated from
Gomal Zam.
The floodwater of Gomal Zam equally
belongs to each land owner in Kulachi Tehsil. This cannot be altered/interfered
with. It depends on the farmers how they use their share of floodwater and to
what intensity of irrigation they achieve. The land is fixed, the water
quantity is fixed, therefore a uniform intensity of irrigation of 86.5% or
whatever it comes to, is to be achieved as assumed in case of equal
distribution of water. WAPDA cannot impose 120% and 60% intensity of irrigation
by illegally reducing the water rights of one area by half, and illegally raising water of the other area by 13 times as shown above. Here, on
Gomal Zam Rewaj-e-abpashi is the law on floodwater use. This is supreme and
sacrosanct.
WAPDA has committed a crime of
theft of water by usurping the legal share of Gandapurs of Kulachi by
drastically reducing the share of its floodwater and ill-legally giving it to
the area not eligible to claim Gomal floodwater rights. WAPDA has committed
robbery on the water rights of Gandapurs in the garb of intensity of irrigation,
violating the Riwaj-e-abpashi. Please
refer to paras 6 and 9 of the PCC meeting held on 24.1.2004 on Gomal Zam
floodwater for observing the views of participants. It is not understood how
WAPDA dares to play politics and builds mega projects in a wrong way without
any authority or concern. This is why Sindh has no trust in WAPDA on Kalabagh
Dam. I can quote the failure of half a dozen mega projects wrongly conceived,
planned and built or abandoned after failure by WAPDA. It is therefore not new
for WAPDA.
.
The Project Director Irrigation informed that as per standing
practice, the design and construction of the Project should be on uniform
intensity of irrigation from head to tail under the command of flood irrigation
system. But surprisingly, the Project
Director WAPDA has altered the water rights of Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil
and gave water illegally to Tank Tehsil.
Extension of canal network, item No 4 of the PCC
Adviser Irrigation said that WAPDA has introduced on the same
canal, three different intensities of irrigation ie, 120%, 100% and 60%. This
means different amount of water will be given to the land holders who have
equal water rights on the same canal. This will be like snatching water rights
of Gandapurs of Kulachi and gifting it to the people in the head reach in
Tehsil Tank. Will this violation not create terrible disputes? Why WAPDA’s
workings are malicious?
.
By grabbing Gandapurs water, a core area of 28500 acres along the right
bank of LUNI River, the major branch of Gomal River, passing by the side of Kulachi
Town, and upto tail area touching the CRBC boundary, has not been included by
WAPDA in the command area of the Project having legitimate water rights under
Kuliyat/Riwaj-e-abpashi. Besides this, more area is ignored by its random
activities. These areas are called “left
over area” or intentionally ignored area of Kulachi Town, that is the heart of
Gomal floodwater or the Rod-Kohi area, that has established water rights in
the Project area since 1880.
The ignored area of Kulachi Town
is the most essential area of the Gomal
Zam Project. Even a lay man will know that the major branch of Gomal Zam,
the LUNI Stream, irrigating area
around Kulachi Town, is the heart or the
pivotal area of Goml Zam floodwater flow. As a matter of fact, the main canal should have been aligned
parallel to the Luni stream. The LUNI Stream passes by the wall city of Kulachi
Town.
The Project Consultant Conny-ta-Billar said that “Whatever water is available, the same must
be equally and judiciously distributed without depriving any chunk of rightful
area”. What the Consultant said, is not followed and not implemented by
WAPDA.
Over and above this, the issue of
intensity of irrigation was discussed in the First and in the 2nd
meetings of the PCC on Gomal Zam. In the 2nd meeting it was
categorically directed to maintain equity in the distribution of floodwater for
irrigation by adopting uniform intensity of irrigation all over the area. To
avoid disputes on water rights, the Riwaj-e-abpashi should not be altered.
(Refer to item No 9). It was further
decided to remodel the canal system for uniform intensity of irrigation what so
ever it comes to, so that the deserving area of water rights is served with
water and no area is left out. (item No 14)
Water Advisor said that in the present EPC contract executed in
2007, the left over area or the ignored
area by WAPDA should have been included. This omission and wrong may be rectified
in the revised PC4 in consultation with the irrigation department. The chair
said varying intensity of irrigation would not be successful. It will create
problems, disputes for irrigation department during operation. It was desired
to carry out modification and incorporate it in PCI.
In spite of repeated directions
and guidance, WAPDA turned deaf ear and did not comply with the instruction of
large number of bodies governing the Project at various tiers.
Tank Tehsil has water rights on Tank Zam
with dam site at
Hanis Tangi, and not on Gomal Zam
Tank Tehsil has almost no water
rights in Gomal Zam passing in the old Gomal nullah and Kot Azam. This is the
decision of the Revenue officer of the British era. This decision is dated 20.12.1895 about 117 years ago. The
people of Tank knew that they have no rights in Gomal River water. They have
their own big river of Tank Zam as
the name indicates. Refer to Bandobast on water rights vide page
No 30 line, 367 of Bandobust.
However, in case of super floods
the over flow from the nullah of
Gomal River ie, spill or chal, spread over the villages
Shada, Mata, Jamal, Rawai and Azim Mian seldom occur. The area of these
villages is 700 acres. The Gandapurs may allow Gomal water to 700 acres. Refer
to page 37, line 8 to 11. The people of Tank Tehsil have no water rights in
Gomal Zam water. This decision is dated
on 8.4.1899.
Mr Bolton report on 1908 on page 5, line
7 to 10 of Bandobast.
Mr Bolton report clears the matter and status that Bunds
will not be constructed to divert Gomal water for the above villages in Tank as
floodwater of Gomal Zam belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil. This clears the
matter of water rights.
Report by Javed Ahmad Mirza-Bundobast 1968
This report reveals that 90% of
Gomal water belongs to Kulachi Tehsil and to D.I.Khan. Refer to paragraph 8, 100,
104. Mr Mirza said the people of Tank Tehsil has no water rights in Gomal River
water. Tank has its own river the Tank
Zam.
Mr Safi Assisstant Commissioner Tank
letter No 315/NTI dated 14.10. 1973 confirms that 30 Jandar of perennial water from Gomal Zam has water rights in
Gomal Zam water. One Jandar is about one cusec. Tank Tehsil has no water rights
on floodwater of Gomal Zam. Please see Kuliyat-e-Gomal Zam page No 12. It says that more than 30 jandar of water
is considered as floodwater. These water rights are sacrosanct.
About 30 Jandar water is equivalent
to 30 cusecs of perennial water for villages Jamal etc. This may be given to
Tank area. Add another 7 cusecs as extra
grace water. This comes to 37 cusecs for Tank. The remaining water
(848-37)=811 cusecs is for Kulachi Tehsil and Dera Tehsil. Again, out of 811
cusec, 95% water belongs to Kulachi Tehsil and 5% of 811 cusecs to D.I.Khan
Tehsil. The Project area shows 66000 ha or 163086 acres in PCI. It seems that a
duty of about 200 acres per cusec is assumed for the project by WAPDA.
WAPDA violates Riwaj-e-abpashi knowingly
and shows injustice and favoritism at the cost of Kulachi Tesil of Gandapurs.
It is shocking that Tank Tehsil entitled
for 30 Jandar/cusecs is given 381 cusecs arbitrarily. Similarly, Waran canal that is a water course with a
discharge of about 4 to 5 cusecs is given 240 cusecs almost equal to the
discharge of a main canal of some irrigation system. Kulachi and Dera Tehsils
that have water rights up to 811 cusecs are given 450 cusecs. This shows pre-planned
interference by illegally reducing the share of Kulachi and D.I. Khan Tehsils
by half, and illegally increasing the
share of Tank by 13 times. This is a clear violation of the
Riwaj-e-abpashi/Kuliyat by WAPDA. Kulachi
is deprived of its water rights on its own river that spreads all over Kulachi
Tehsil where Gandapurs are settled in search of water more than 450 years ago.
Kulachi Tehsil is within the hydrological
zone of Gomal River. Tank Tehsil is within the hydrological zone of Tank Zam. WAPDA must understand the hydrological
unit for Kulachi Tehsil.
WAPDA played this trick through ‘intensity
of irrigation’ in violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi creating inequality in the
equal water rights for all areas. Riwaj-e-abpashi has no concept of the
intensity of irrigation. Intensity of irrigation is irrelevant. Three different
intensities of irrigation mean to deprive one area of its water rights and give
water to an area not entitled for it. This means WAPDA has created three Divides of the same land.
Let WAPDA build Tank Zam for Tank Tehsil. Tank area has
a separate hydrological unit.
One thing is most disturbing that
the Provincial irrigation Department as a client, the various decisions of the
PCC meetings in 2002, 2004 and in 2007, the Project Director irrigation, the
Advisor (irrigation) and the Gandapurs of Kulachi-the owners of land, all
firmly demand that water rights in the Riwaj-e-abpashi of 1890, 1899, 1895,
1908 and 1968 should not be violated.
In spite of ignoring all the
above directions, WAPDA ignored the water rights of Gandapurs reducing their
share by half, whereas the share of
Tank Tehsil is increased by 13 times, violating
the Riwaj-e-abpashi. WAPDA has thus sown the seeds of disputes and bloodshed.
WAPDA’s status is no more than a contractor. It should obey what is asked for by the
owners of water. WAPDA has played mischief under political influence by introducing
the intensity of irrigation. WAPDA
using this trick, reduced the water rights of Kulachi Tehsil by half, and increased the water rights
of Tank Tahsil by 13 times in
violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi.
Power Generation from Gomal Zam
Gomal Zam is basically built to
store floodwater for irrigation use as per the water rights according to the
Riwaj-e--abpashi. Power generation is by-product. The water of Gamal Zam cannot
be regulated to produce power at the cost of irrigation. Irrigation gets first
priority. In Riwaj-e-abpashi there is no mention of power generation. There is
no objection to power generation if there is no interference with the releases of
water for irrigation. Flow should be regulated according to the irrigation
water needs so that water is not wasted. Please refer to Water Accord in this respect for the release of water from the
multipurpose Reservoir.
During 1959, I located three dam sites on Gomal River for power
generation,, downstream of the Khajuri Kach Dam site. These sites were pointed
out by me during the investigation of Khajuri Katch Dam. If more power is
required then build dams on the downstream of Khajuri Katch Dam on Gomal River.
This document reveals the history of the development of Rod Kohi Flood
Irrigation by the British in 1880 from the hill torrents of Gomal Zam for the
Gandapur Pathans of Kulachi by inundating their lands by floodwater to produce
food for themselves. It shows the floodwater rights of Gandapurs. The British administration
prepared water rights named Riwaj-e-Abpashi / Kultat for the distribution of water. The British
officers reduced this all in writing during their Land Settlement in the later
part of nineteen century. The Bolton Irrigation Notes of 1908 are still
considered as the Bible of Rod Kohi Irrigation. The area was then most
productive in food grains. Now the area of Rod Kohi is in shamble due to
official neglect.
God helped Gandapurs that I was posted as the Project Director Gomal
Zam. I shifted the Gomal dam site in 1959 to Khajuri Katch Dam site because dam
on Gomal River was selected at random, and wrongly located in
the upper most reach of the Gomal River, harnessing hardly 12% of Gomal waters.
The dam site was shifted 30 miles on the downstream below the confluence of
Gomal Zam, Zob River, and Wana Toi. The Khajuri Katch Dam site, 30 miles on the
downstream of Gul Katch site is spectacular and hardly 80 feet wide at the dam
site river bed. I started the preliminaries of the dam in 1959. It should have
been completed in 1964. But WAPDA due to its apathy indefinitely delayed its
construction and built the Dam in 2012. Even now its canal system is not built.
Not only this, WAPDA has sown the seeds of disputes between Kulachi and
Tank Tehsils by interfering in the Riwaj-e--Abpashi and favoring the people of
Tank due to political pressure. God knows how long this will take that
Gandapurs get back their water rights? We the Gandapurs pray for justice. In
the mean time stay orders be issued and water should not be released in the
canal system till water rights of Gandapurs are restored and the canal network
remodeled and extended to the area deprived of water rights.
Engr. Fateh Ullah
Khan Gandapur 22.8.2012
B.Sc Engg. Ist Division.
(Distinction in Dams and Reservoir Engineering), M.ASCE (USA), FIE (Pak)
Former Chairman Indus River System Authority (IRSA).
(The
discoverer and initiator of Khajuri Katch Dam site on Gomal Zam in 1959) & 12
mega Dams in Pakistan
Mobile 0300-5920641
Line 051-2106387 email
fatehuk @ gmail. com Website fateuk.blogspot.com
Address:
518, F-10/2, Margalla Road (Service Road
North), Islamabad.
The water rights of Gandapurs in Gomal Zam fixed under
the Riwaj-e-abpashi / Kulayat in 1880 and the Bolton Irrigation Notes of 1908
still considered as the Bible of
Rod Kohi are disregarded by WAPDA
Water rights of Gandapurs usurped
They appeal for Justice
By
Engr. Fateh Ullah
Khan Gandapur
B.Sc Eng. First Division, Distinction in Dams and
Reservoir Engineering. M.ASCE (USA), FIE (PAK).
Former Chairman Indus
River System Authority
Author of: 1. God ,Universe, and Man, the Holy Quran
and the Hearafter (1982) and
2. God created the Universe with purpose to serve Humankind (2009)
Address;- 518,
F-10/2, Margalla Road (Service Road North) Islamabad
Tel; 051-2106387,
0300-5920641. Email fatehuk @ gmail.com Website
fatehuk.blogspot.com
