Pakistan claims India closed water flow in Chenab

The Pakistani authorities have said that India has closed water flow in the Chenab river, which it claimed was making the water shortage in the country more severe.

The alleged “water blockade” by India could adversely affect kharif crops, particularly cotton and sugarcane, which are in a maturity stage and require final watering, and the sowing of rabi crops early next month, sources told the Dawn newspaper.

They said Pakistan’s Indus Water Commission had taken up the matter with the federal government. It has also convened a meeting tomorrow to take stock of the situation and to try to reach a diplomatic solution with India.

 

If the issue is prolonged, the sowing of rabi crops, particularly wheat, would be hit severely, the sources said.

Pakistan had to import over two million tonnes of wheat this year despite a record production of more than 23 million tonnes. The water shortage could force Pakistan to import more wheat next year, adding to foreign exchange pressure and worsening its balance of payments crisis.

The Indus River System Authority has convened a meeting of its technical committee on September 20 to ascertain the overall water availability for the rabi season that begins on October 1.

The Pakistani authorities have estimated that there could be a shortage of over 35 per cent of irrigation water during the next rabi season following a decline in the melting of snow in the Northern Areas, higher withdrawals by provinces during the kharif season and increased hydropower generation.

“India’s unilateral decision to stop the Chenab flows had put additional pressure on the irrigation system of Pakistan”, which received over 23,000 cusecs a day until last week.

The figure has now been brought down to almost zero, the sources said.