Water Certificate
KARACHI: The Government of Sindh has once again reached out to the federal government regarding the controversial canal project originating from the Indus River, further intensifying the ongoing water dispute.
In a formal letter, the Sindh government has demanded the immediate convening of a session of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to address the issue. The letter states that the provincial administration intends to challenge the certification granted by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for the Cholistan canal project, calling for its immediate cancellation.
Terming IRSA’s water availability certificate as “a bundle of lies,” the Sindh government has strongly refuted the federal water authority’s claims. It insists that Sindh has not received its fair share of Indus River water, as per the provisions of the 1991 Water Accord. The provincial authorities argue that IRSA’s certification of the new canal project is illegal and must be annulled through discussion at the CCI session.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has also decided to escalate the matter to President Asif Ali Zardari, urging him to take up the issue with the federal government. According to party sources, the president will discuss the construction of six new canals from the Indus River with the federal authorities after Eid ul Fitr.
President Zardari is expected to raise the matter with the prime minister and formally request a session of the CCI to deliberate on the canal projects. PPP leaders argue that this issue must be resolved at the constitutional level to prevent further water disputes among the provinces.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has also weighed in on the controversy, clarifying that President Asif Ali Zardari never approved any canal project in a recent meeting. Speaking at a press conference, Shah stated that while the president was briefed on irrigation plans and additional land cultivation, the official minutes of the meeting were misrepresented to falsely suggest that he had endorsed the canal projects.
Shah further explained that during discussions at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), Sindh’s representative had registered strong objections when the topic of six new canals was brought up.
He emphasized that while the name “Cholistan Canal” was not explicitly mentioned during the discussions, Sindh has remained consistent in opposing the project due to concerns over water distribution and the violation of provincial rights.
The escalating dispute underscores long-standing tensions between Sindh and the federal government over water resources. With the Sindh government determined to challenge IRSA’s decision and the PPP pushing for presidential intervention, the controversy over the Indus River canal projects is likely to remain a major political and environmental issue in the coming weeks.
