Sindh assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday, rejecting the construction of six new channels on the Industry river, including the Cholistan canal, calling them illegal and a violation of the 1991 water agreement.
The resolution has urged the Federal Government and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to interrupt all the plans or activities linked to these projects until all the provinces, in particular the SINDH, are consulted to guarantee that their water rights are protected.
“This house requires immediate stop at all plans, activities or works related to the construction of the Cholistan canal and other channels on the industrial river system,” said the resolution. He also called for a dialogue between the provincial stakeholders to ensure interprorvincial water justice.
CM Shah raises water rights problems
Sindh -chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed the Sindh’s historic rights on the Indus and warned against his waters without consent.
“The people of the Sindh have a legitimate complaint on these rivers,” he said, stressing that water cannot be taken without the agreement of those who have had them for centuries.
He criticized the embezzlement of fertile land from Punjab to Cholistan, arguing that this would have serious consequences for the two provinces. “Will Punjab allow its most productive regions, such as Chaj Doab and Rachna Doab, to dry just to irrigate a desert?” questioned.
The CM also cited the previous agreements, including the Water Agreement of the Sindh-Punjab of 1945, which allocated a fixed part to Punjab while ensuring that excess water was flowing towards the Sindh.
With growing concerns about water scarcity, Shah has urged all stakeholders to join historic agreements and ensure fair distribution to save Sindh’s water resources.
