Hydro-Politics; Water

issues in Domestic and

Regional Context
Muhammad Ijaz
Contents
 Introduction
 Importance
 Water Sources in Pakistan
 Economy
 Pakistan’s geography related to Agriculture.
 Comparative study with India
 IRSA
 Source of Surface Water
 Indus River Basin
 Domestic water Issues
 Past and Present Inter-Provincial Water Conflicts in Pakistan
 Constitutional Problem (18th Amendment)
 WAPDA as a regulatory authority over water reserve.
 Indus water Accord
 CJ link Canal Issue
 Provincial Point of Views on Water Right
 Vision 2025 of Pakistan related to Water Crisis
 Controversial Multipurpose Projects
 Dispute over Mangla Dam
 Kalabagh Dam
 Diamer-Bahsha Dam
Cont.
 Regional water Problems (International
Hydro-politics)
 Water issues among China-India-Pakistan
 Water disputes between India and Pakistan
 Indus water Treaty (1960)
 Water dispute on western border i.e with Afghanistan.
Introduction
 Water play a vital role in the country’s economy.
 Almost 88% of available water is used in the agriculture and industry.
 Major Usage of Water except agriculture and industry
 Domestic Usage
 Mining
 Livestock
 Fisheries
 Development
 Per Capita availability of surface water has been gradually dwindling in
Pakistan from 5300 cubic meters in 1951 to 1300 cubic meters in 2002 and
now in 2015 it is just 1045 cubic meters that is near to minimum 1000 cubic
meters.
 97.5 percent of the world’s water is too salty for human consumption and crop
production.
 The rest of the fresh water, an estimated 35 million cubic kilometers (million
cukm)/year, cannot be fully accessed; most of it is locked either in the ice
cover of Arctic and Antarctic regions or in deep underground aquifers. Thus,
the physically accessible fresh water potential of the world is only
90,000cukm/year.
 This amount represents just 0.26 percent of global fresh water reserves.
Cont.
 Close to the two-thirds of available water known as green
water evaporates back to the environment and responsible for
rainfall and balancing the ecological system.

 Even the rest, known as blue water, which can be used cannot
be fully utilized due to economic, technological and
environmental limitations, spatial and temporal mismatch
between fresh water availability and demand, and pollution-
induced quality deterioration.

 The spatial distribution is grave problem as water resources

are not available where or when needed. Brazil with small
fraction of global population has one-fifth of world’s water
resources whereas India and China, with more than a third of
population have only one-tenth of global fresh water resources.
Economy
 Mainly Pakistan’s economy depends upon Agriculture.
 That is single largest sector and accounts 24% of GDP
 Employs almost 48.4% of the total workplace.
 68% population lives in rural areas and in directly and
indirectly attached with it.
 70% of our exports rely upon agricultural based
products.
 Irrigated agriculture land provides 90% of food and
fiber requirements from 42.5 million acres (80%
cultivated land) .
 Barani (Rain-fed) 10 million acres contributed only
20% food.
Data Related to
Agriculture
 Total geographical area is 196 million acres
 77.1 million acres suitable for agriculture.
 54.4 million acres (71%) out of total agricultural land is already
cultivated either by irrigation or through rain.
 22.6 million acres of land which constitute (29%) of the total area
suitable for agriculture that area can become productive if water is
made available for irrigation.
 1/3rd of the agricultural potential of Pakistan remain untapped
because of non-development of water resources and associated
infrastructure.
 Irrigated area in 1947 ------20.7 MAC
 In 2000 irrigated area----42.5 MAC
 Indus River Basin System
 Three Multipurpose Dam
 Nineteen barrages
 Twelve link Canals
 45 Independent main Canals Commands
.
Comparative Study related to water
reserves and distribution with India
Contents Pakistan India Ratio

Population 190 Million 1270 Million 1:7

Irrigated Area 42 Million 221 Million 1:5

by Canals Acres Acres

Large Dams 68 4700 1:69

Storage 13 MAF 262 MAF 1:20

Capacity

Hydro Power 6500 MW 31000 MW 1:5

Canal 100 MAF 460 MAF 1:4

Diversions
Sources of Surface Water in
Pakistan
 River Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and the
Sutlej are main source of surface water in Pakistan
having their sources in the Himalayas.
 Pakistan has the largest canal irrigation system in
the world having 145 million acre feet (maf) annual
average of water.
 About 90% of the Pakistan’s food and fiber
production depends on this irrigation system.
 Out of this quantity,
 75 maf is being used for agriculture,
 35 maf is being mismanaged
 35 maf is being wasted into the sea during the rainy season every
year.
Cont.
 At the time of partition of Pakistan and
India, its (IRS) average annual flow was
168.3maf
 89.5 maf from Indus at Kalabagh,
 22.6 maf from Jhelum at Mangla,
 23.5 maf from Chenab at Marala,
 6.4 maf from Ravi at Madhopur,
 12.7 maf from Beas at Mandi Plain,
 13.5 maf from Sutlej at Rupar Head Work.
Indus River Basin
 Indus River Basin covers an area almost 1 million sq Km.
 It touches four countries like China, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
 In terms of estimated annual flow it is a 21st largest river of the world
(207 cubic kilometer).
 It is almost 3180 km long that is one of the longest river in the Asia and
longest river of Pakistan.
 The Indus river basin has a total area of 1.12 million sq km, distributed
between
 Pakistan (47 percent),
 India (39 percent),
 China (8 percent)
 Afghanistan (6 percent).
 According to the FAO report, the total area equipped for irrigation in the
entire Indus river basin is estimated to be around 26.3 million ha, of
which
 Pakistan accounts for approximately 19.08 million ha or 72.7 percent,
 India 6.71 million ha or 25.6 percent,
 Afghanistan 0.44 million ha or 1.7 percent,
 China 0.03 million ha or 0.1 percent.
Indus Eastern Tributaries
 Indus rises in the north of Kalash range in the shadow of Mont. Everist. Its
total length is almost 2000 miles.
 It drops 16000 feet from its source into the Arabian Sea.
 Its first eastern river known as Jehlum rises from the foot of Pir Pinjal in the
south eastern. Its total length is almost 813 KM.
 Chenab has its source in Himachel Pardesh in India. It is about 974 KM in
length.
 Ravi is the smallest river of the five eastern tributaries and also has its
source from Himachel Pardesh. That is almost 720 KM.
 River Beas also rises in Himachel Pardesh and joined the Sutlej at Harike in
Indian Punjab. Whose length is just 470 KM.
 Sutlej River rises in the Kalash Range from lake Mansarower in China. It
enters in Pakistan via India at Sulemanki Barrage. Its length is about 1450
KM.
 All these five rivers ultimately combine combine into one river at Punjnand
and joins the Indus at Mithankot.
 Aggregate length of the eastern tributaries of the Indus exceeds 28,00
miles.
Western Tributaries of
Indus
 Western tributaries of the Indus is big one known as
Kabul river whose length is almost 700 km.
 It originate from Singlakh range of Hindukesh from the
Afghanistan and came here in Pakistan and joined with
the Indus at Attock bridge in the Punjab.
 The second one river is Kuram river whose length is 320
KM. It originates from Afghanistan’s province Paktia and
also joined with the Indus at Isa Khail area.
 Third one is Gomal River whose length is almost 400 km
and its source is also from Paktia province of Afghanistan
and joined the Indus river at D.I.Khan’s area.
 Total length of the western tributaries of Indus are
almost 600 miles.
i
Vision 2025
 In August 2000 the federal cabinet of Pakistan approved the Vision-2025 program to
develop its water infrastructure.
 It has to be implemented in three phases.
 Under phase I of the three phase program the government has given go-ahead to
undertake detailed engineering and feasibility studies for
 Basha dam and the greater Thal canal,
 Kachi canal in Balochistan
 the Chasma right bank canal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
 Thal reservoir project in Punjab.
 Three projects in Sindh;
 Sindh riverine area development,
 thar canal and Sehwan barrage.
 The total cost of projects is estimated at $11.71 billion.
 Priority hydroelectric generations project in phase I includes;
 Jinnah,
 Malankhand- III,
 Allai Khaman,G
 olen Gol,
 New Bong,
 Khan Khawar,
 Duber Khawar,
 Pehur high level.
Cont.
 In January 2001 the federal government also approved phase II and
phase III of the vision 2025 program.
 Hydro projects under phase II include:
 raising of the height of Mangla dam to increase its reservoir storage and power
generation capacity,
 Thal Reservoirs,
 Doylan,
 Neelum-Jehlum,
 Kohali Matitan,
 Gulpure,
 Abbasian,
 Rajdhani and several combined cycle power generation projects.
 Phase III includes sixteen schemes, including Dasu, Pata, Tahakot, Bunji,
Munda, Chakothi, Naran, Suki Kina, Patrind, Azad Pattan, Karol, Thar coal
project, lakhna coal project and several combined cycle power
generation projects.
 The world bank Asian Development Bank,China,Saudi Arabia and
United Arab Emirates(UAE) are the main financing agencies and the
countries.
Domestic Water Issues
Past and Present water clashes.
 There was no question over water sharing in the sub-
continent till early 20th century.
 After WW 1, several new projects like Thal, Haveli, Bhakra
Dam and Sutlej Valley canals in Punjab and Sakkar
Barrage in Sindh were proposed.
 At that time, Sindh was feared that his water rights can be
snubbed.
 The dispute of Indus water sharing began long before the
partition of India and Pakistan in the form of interstate
differences between the Punjab, Sindh, Bahalwalpur and
Bikaner.
 Govt. of India came forward to neutralized the issue and
independent commissions were appointed to dissolve the
issues.
Cont.
 The situation was become so serious when upper Bari Doab
Canal was completed in 1858 and started irrigation about
one million acres of land between the Ravi and Bias Rivers
with the water from Ravi.
 To dissolve all such raised issues between Punjab and Sindh,
following committees and commissions were set up for
distribution of waters of IRS between provinces.
 Tripartite agreement 1921
 Indus discharge Committee 1921
 SV P inquiry Committee 1932
 Anderson Committee 1937
 RAO Commission 1945
 Akhter Hussain Committee 1968
 Fazl-e-Akbar Committee 1970
 Chief Justices commission 1977
 Haleem commission 1983.
 Indus Water Accord
Indus Water Accord 1991
 Govt. of Pakistan appreciating the urgency of the matter
approved the Water Apportionment Accord on 16 March
1991.

 According to this accord, share of each province, both for

Kharif and Rabi and allocation of balance supplies was
allocated in MAF.

 It supersedes all previous sharing arrangements and

agreements arrived at this regard.

 It protects the existing uses of canal water in each

province.

 It recognizes the need for constructing new storages

wherever feasible on the Indus and other rivers for planned
Cont.
 It lays down the procedure for sharing shortage and surpluses
on all Pakistan bases.

 The need to establish on Indus River System Authority for

implementation of the Accord was recognized and accepted.

 It would have representation from all four provinces.

 The balance river supplies including flood supplies and
future storage are allocated as
 37 % for Punjab,
 37 % for Sindh,
 14 % for KPK,
 12 % for Baluchistan
IRSA
 Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was
established in 1993 through an Act of the
Parliament.
 The authority was established for regulating and
monitoring the distribution of water sources of
the IRS amongst the provinces in accordance
with the provision of the Water Accord 1991.
 IRS oversees the allocation based on the
seasonally available supplies, however the
allocation of the water received by a province for
different uses remain provincial subject.
Provincial Point of Views over
Water Distribution (Sindh)
 Sindh accused Punjab of “Water Theft” that 16000 cusecs of water between Taunsa and
Gaddu had been stolen in one week (IRSA staff report-2011)
 Sindh always objected that it had received less water than its entitlements used 1991
Accord.
 At present, flow to water is insufficient to meet minimum requirement for sea intrusion.
 Consequently, sea water now comes up 100 KM in land and caused the increased
Salination of lower Sindh agricultural land.
 Another problem is the shrinking of the Indus Basin mangroves forest, which is
dependent on fresh water supplies. That was considered sixth largest in the world, has
reduced in size by 38% during 1977-90.
 Two link canals namely Chasma-Jehlum and Taunsa-Punjnand were constructed from
Indus River to provide water in times when there is short supply from Jhelum and
Chenab rivers. These canals are operated through out the year even when sufficient
water is available in Jehlum and Chenab as well.
 Another objection is raised by Sindh over Baluchistan and KPK that these provinces are
exempted from sharing shortage of water, while this objection is overruled by these
provinces that already they are taking less share.
 The Surplus water is not available for storage but only in flood years that can be stored
and used in dry years if surplus water is available .
 Due to link-Canals, Sindh gets less water in present arrangements because storage in
Mangla Dam and operation of link-canals.
Baluchistan Point of View
 The main issue is in development of Baluchistan that is the
scare water availability.
 Indus Water Accord allocates only 3.87 MAF water which is
hardly 3.55 MAF of the total perennial flows in the system.
 The present canal capacity in Baluchistan are not adequate to
utilize.
 Only 3.05 MAF could be utilized rest of the areas depends upon
minor perennial and non-perennial flood irrigation system for
fulfilling needs of all sub sectors that is domestic, agriculture
and mining.
 As a lower riparian of Sindh, Baluchistan accused that sindh is
using its share.
 Two of Baluchistan canals, namely Pat Feeder and Kirthar, take
off from Guddu and Sukur Barrages, Sindh usually released
less water in to the two canals than their due share.
KPK Point of View
 KPK objected over Punjab’s Canal System – Old 150 years-quite
wasteful.
 Its wastage is more than 50% in its conveyance system before
reaching the field.
 Drain System is old-It has blocked and the local consulting that is
hired by WAPDA is below standard.
 Out of 142 MAF, 105 MAF is diverted into the traditional and wasteful
supply based canal system through which 52 MAF is lost through the
unlined canal irrigation system due to seepage and leakage.
 35 MAF is the wasted to sea during the flood season.
 Moreover one million miles of the traditional watercourses and the
uneven irregular shaped field is another major contribution source of
wastage of water.
 In this way, out of 142 MAF, total wastage of water is 35+52 = 87
MAF that is 61% of total flow of water is going to waste.
 25 Million acres can be cultivated through this wastage of the water.
Cont.
 Dam should be constructed at upper reaches like Katzarah dam etc.
 Tarbeela is on lower reaches due to its wrong location due to this
reason it can be accumulate rapid silting.
 In 2025 Mangla and Tarbela both would be completely silt up.
 Katzarah dam should be build up on the Indus that’s storage is 35
MAF which is six times greater than of Basha or Kalabagh.
 It would irrigate almost 8 million acre of barren land
 The life of katzara dam is more than 1000 years
 It is suggested by the KPK to create the Indus Valley Authority for
the construction of Dam.
 Over Kalabagh Dam KPK have reservations
 Political and technical controversy
 Being at the tail-it has poorest capacity.
 Received maximum silt.
 Foundation of dam is very weak.
 It would block the sub-surface flow of Peshawar valley and whole valley would be
destroyed due to water logging.
Punjab’s Point of View
 Punjab irrigation system provides life line for agricultural economy of Province.
 Punjab accounts for 80% of Pakistan agriculture production.
 Over 90 % of the agricultural output in Punjab comes from irrigated lands.
 The Punjab irrigated system is a part of Indus Basin System with 25 main canal
commands system off-taking 13 barrages over the Indus and its tributaries.
 Agriculture sectors employs more than 50% of the work force and accounts for
70% of export revenues.
 Some area of Punjab such as Potohar, Cholistan and DG Khan are water
stressed.
 Half million big and small industrial units in the Punjab generate second highest
employment in the country and consume newly 2.2MAF of water annually.
 The water distribution was made in the Water Accord 1991 against the existing
actual uses of 103 MAF – due to silting and shrinking of water storage capacity,
accord is wad was never achieved.
 Water demand is increasing day by day on account of growing population,
increasing urbanization and industrialization. So, it is high time, Pakistan build
new water reservoirs.
 So, Kalabagh dam should be top priority.
 Huge wastage of water should be avoided by improve irrigation efficiencies.
Recommendation over
domestic hydro politics
 Federal Govt. should not discriminate against any
province on the basis of political affiliation.
 Federal Govt. must provide equal distribution of water
for the development of each province
 To develop nation consensus, politician should play a
positive role.
 National consensus over kalabagh dam should be on top
priority.
 The objection of KPK and Sindh should be removed by
providing substitute development in these provinces.
 Flow of fresh water to the sea should be minimized.
 Seepage and evaporation may be controlled through
living of canals and reservoirs.
Cont.
 Provincial differences on sharing of water may resolve
amicably and speedily.
 Huge wastage of water should be avoided and made it
possible to irrigate barren land from getting benefit of
this unused water.
 Canal system should be modify and replace sub-surface
tile system to save the wastage of 35 MAF.
 Millions miles traditional water course need replacement
under demand based irrigation system.
 The feeling of Pakistan must prevail upon the feeling of
being a Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pathan.
 The alarming water shortage in Pakistan calls for political
vision, pragmatic policies and effective river regulations.
Regional issues related to
Water resource in South Asia
 The relationship between water and security is quite
pronounced and acknowledged by all from
international political leaders to hydrologists to
climatologists.
 In 1991, UN secretary general Boutros-Ghali
observed that the "next war will be fought over
water, not politics”.
 In 1995, Ismail Serageldin, the first chairperson of
the Global Water Partnership warned: “If wars of this
century were fought over oil, the wars of the next
century will be fought over water — unless we
change our approach to managing this precious and
vital resource.”
Cont.
 He identifies six categories or types of conflicts, some of
them overlapping, that form basis of conflict. They are:
 Control of Water Resources: (state and non-state actors): where water
supplies or access to water is at the root of tensions.
 Military Tool (state actors): where water resources or water systems
themselves are used by a nation or state, as a weapon during a military
action.
 Political Tool (state and non-state actors): where water resources, or
water systems themselves, are used by a nation, state, or non-state
actor for a political goal.
 Terrorism (non-state actors): where water resources, or water systems,
are either targets or tools of violence or coercion by non-state actors.
 Military Target: (state actors): where water resource systems are direct
targets of military actions by nations or states.
 Development Disputes: (state and non-state actors): where water
resources or water systems are a major source of contention and
dispute in the context of economic and social development.
India’s Relations with neighboring
countries over water resources
 India is a semi-arid country. It is relatively in a better position
than Pakistan due to its proximity to Tibet, Kashmir and
Himalaya's water resources which make it practically upper
riparian in the Indus, Ganges-Brahmaputra and Meghna basins,
all forming part of the main Himalayan river systems.
 Besides, India has the Deccan rivers — the Godavari, the
Krishna, the Cauvery, and the Mahanadi; coastal rivers and
rivers of the inland drainage basin.
 India also plans to build a big river-linking-project that includes
diversion of vast quantities of water from the Ganges and the
Brahmaputra through transfer of water from “surplus river
basins” to “deficit river basins” in the country.
 The proposed project has become a source of tension between
India and the upstream Nepal and the downstream Bangladesh
which would be adversely affected by the diversion.
Water Dispute b/w India and
Pakistan
 The growing water stress in Pakistan and India is shaping
discourse on water between the two countries. The increase
in water stress in the two countries since the early 1990s
has also put strain on the IWT.
 In March 2009, a group of more than 20 different UN bodies
warned that, since water has become the latest cause
stoking tensions between India and Pakistan, the world may
be perilously close to its first water war. The report observed
that “water is linked to the crises of climate change, energy
and food supplies and prices, and troubled financial
markets.”….“Unless their links with water are addressed and
water crises around the world are resolved, other crises may
intensify and local water crises may worsen, converging into
a global water crisis and leading to political insecurity and
conflict at various levels.”
Cont.
 In Pakistan a passionate debate was sparked by an
array of ongoing controversial Indian projects including
the Wullar Barrage, Baglihar and Kishenganga dams
and on the rivers allocated to Pakistan.
 The government and political leadership in Pakistan
have been quite vocal in expressing their concerns
regarding Indian projects, especially on the Jhelum and
Chenab rivers.
 On 28 January 2009, President Zardari in an article in
the Washington Post warned:
 “The water crisis in Pakistan is directly linked to relations with
India. Resolution could prevent an environmental catastrophe in
South Asia, but failure to do so could fuel the fires of discontent
that may lead to extremism and terrorism.”
Cont.
 The Chairman, Indus Waters Treaty Council, Hafiz
Zahoor-ul-Hassan Dahr, has warned that Pakistan could
become another Somalia and Ethiopia.
 He said the Indian projects were aimed at controlling the
waters of the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers, were
illegal and a clear violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.
 He said India had seized 70 per cent water of the
Chenab and the Jhelum as a result of which over 0.9
million acres of land, being irrigated through the Marala
Headworks, was now presenting the view of Thar and
Cholistan deserts.
 Sparked the terminology as “Water Terrorism” by the
Jammat-ud-Dawa and Jaish-e-Muhammad in their own
respective publications.
Water Dispute b/w Pakistan
and Afghanistan
 India also plans to assist Afghanistan in constructing
multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of the
Kabul River. Afghanistan is planning for construction of
dams and facilities on its rivers for flood control,
electricity generation and irrigation expansion.
 Afghanistan’s initiative for construction multi-purpose
water projects on the tributaries of Kabul River with a
total water storage capacity of 4.7 million acre feet
(MAF), 25 per cent more than that of Mangla Dam,
would adversely impact Pakistan.
 It is estimated to suffer 16 to 17 per cent drop in
water supply from Afghanistan after construction of 13
dams on the Kabul River.
Cont.
 Induction of KAMA Irrigation Project, Afghanistan will be
able to reduce 0.5 MAF water flow towards Pakistan.
 The Kama project is situated in South-Eastern
Afghanistan, about 150 km from the capital city of Kabul,
and is wholly located within Nangarhar Province, of which
the main town is Jalalabad.
 The project area is enclosed in the North by high
mountains, in West by the Konar River.
 A gross area of about 7000 ha is at present cultivated by
traditional irrigation methods, taking water from both the
Konar and Kabul Rivers.
 Within the overall Kama Project Area, three distinct
irrigation areas exist; the Kama Plain, the Gerdab Plain
and the Gosta Plain.
Water Disputes b/w China and
India
 China’s grand plans to harness the waters of the
Brahmaputra River have set off ripples of
anxiety in the two lower riparian states: India
and Bangladesh.
 The 2,880 km-long Brahmaputra originates in
Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo.
It flows eastwards through southern Tibet for a
distance of 1,625 kilometers and at its eastern
most point it swings around to make a
spectacular U-turn at the Shuomatan Point or
Great Bend before it enters India’s easternmost
state, Arunachal Pradesh.
Cont.
 China’s plans for the Brahmaputra took a leap
forward when the first unit of the $1.5 billion
Zangmu Hydropower Station project, which is
located in the middle reaches of the river, became
operational.
 It can be painful not only India but also for
Bangladesh, where the Brahmaputra is a veritable
lifeline and a core part of the cultural life here.
 Fuelling anxiety over the Chinese dams on the
Brahmaputra is the impact that a reduction of the
flow of the Ganges has had on millions in the region.
India’s damming of the Ganges has reduced the
water flow into Bangladesh.
Recommendation
 Trust Building through Timely Data Sharing
 Transparency in Data Sharing
 Expanding Mandate of Indus Water Commission.
 Study of the Behaviour of Himalayan Glaciers.
 Glaciers Protection.
 Cooperation in Trans-boundary Watershed
 Management.
 Sharing of Trans-boundary Environment Impact
 Assessment (TEIA).
 Ensure Ecological Flows in Eastern Rivers.
 Addressing Trans-boundary Water Pollution.
 Constructive Multi-Track Water Diplomacy.
Conclusion
 Indus watery treaty should take the role model to
dissolve the current dispute.
 IWT II should be negotiate among Pakistan and India.
 Water Agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan
should be write down like Iran and Afghanistan.
 The trust gap in water relations need to be addressed
at the political and diplomatic level, by depoliticizing
water discourse in both countries.
 Practical steps should be taken to ensure
communication of real time flow data by way of
installation of telemetry system on the western rivers.
 India observing transparency in communicating
information regarding planned projects to Pakistan.