Sindh Indus River System Authority (IRSA) member Zahid Hussain Junejo on Tuesday claimed that he was attacked by IRSA Chairman Rao Irshad Ali Khan during a meeting on Taunsa-Punjab (TP) link canal. However the IRSA statement refutes the claim.
Zahid Hussain Junejo has said that he was manhandled by IRSA Chairman Rao Irshad Ali Khan, who is also a member of Punjab. Junejo claimed that he was attacked after he raised the issue of the acute water crisis in Sindh.
“I was hit with a mike by the chairman during the meeting just for demanding Sindh’s due share of water”, he claimed.
In the meeting, Sindh member Zahid Hussain Junejo complained that his province was receiving 44 percent less share of water. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa members also endorsed Sindh’s position.
Soon after the incident, Sindh Irrigation Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal on directions of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah contacted Sindh Irsa member and took details of the unfortunate incident from Junejo.
“Despite repeated requests, water is being allowed to pass under the Kotri Barrage,” said the body regulating water supply on Indus River while sharing that 52,000-acre feet of water was allowed to pass under the barrage during a period from April 01 to May 22.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for IRSA has strongly contradicted exchange of hot words between the members during the meeting.
Khalid Idrees Rana said the meeting was convened to review the water situation in the dams.
Keeping in view water situation in the rivers, it was decided to continue the water distribution as per the decisions taken in the meeting on May 21. He said member Sindh objected use of 500 cusecs water by the Punjab from Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canal.
However, Member Punjab pleaded under Article 14 (b) of the Water Accord, every province could take water share from any canal.
Moreover, IRSA on Monday said that it had detected a water theft of 50 percent in the Sindh province between Sukkur and Kotri Barrages.
In a letter written to the provincial government to respond to their claim regarding less water being supplied to the province, IRSA said that 50 percent of water supplied is being stolen between Sukkur and Kotri barrages.
