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Government of the Punjab

Government of the Punjab

BRIEFING
ON

WATER APPORTIONMENT ACCORD 1991

8th June, 2012

Government of the Punjab

INDUS BASIN IRRIGATION SYSTEM

OVER VIEW

Indus Basin Irrigation System is the largest contiguous gravity

flow network in the World.

River flows are highly fluctuating 70% flows occur during 3

monsoon months.

Current reservoirs capacity is inadequate to balance the river

flow fluctuations. Sedimentation has further reduced storage
capacity by 26%.

Pakistan has become a water-scarce country.

System is designed for low Irrigation intensities actual Irrigation

intensities have now almost doubled.

Ground water contributes 40 50% of Irrigation requirements

Government of the Punjab

MAP OF INDUS BASIN

Government of the Punjab

PUNJAB IRRIGATION SYSTEM:

SALIENT FEATURES
Headworks / Barrages

13

Main Canal Systems

25

Length of Main Canals and Branches

3993 Miles

Length of Distributaries and Minors

19191 Miles

23184 Miles

Length of Inter River Link Canals

528 Miles

Off-take capacity of Main Canals

1.2 Lac Cs

Off-take Capacity of Link Canals

1.1 Lac Cs

Total Outlets

58000

G.C.A

23.35 m.a

C.C.A

20.78 m.a

Total

a.

Perennial

b.

Non-Perennial

12.94 m.a
:

7.84 m.a
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Government of the Punjab

PUNJAB IRRIGATION SYSTEM:

SALIENT FEATURES
Over all designed Annual Irrigation

13.96 m.a

Overall Designed Annual Intensity

67 %

Actual Irrigation

25.2 m.a

Actual Intensity

120-130 %

SCARP Tubewells

1060

Private Tubewells

800,000

Length of Flood Embankments

1600 Miles

Length of Surface Drains

4800 Miles

Small Dams

46 + 13

PUNJAB IRRIGATION SYSTEM

IMPACT OF INDUS WATERS TREATY

Government of the Punjab

In post Treaty period Pakistan / Punjab canals have been

grouped in following two Zones for the purpose of receiving
river supply.
i)

Jhelum Chenab Zone or Mangla

Command Canals.

ii)

Indus Zone or Tarbela Command Canals.

PUNJAB IRRIGATION SYSTEM

IMPACT OF INDUS WATERS TREATY

Government of the Punjab

Mangla Command Canals

Upper Jhelum canal

Upper & Lower Depalpur Canal

Lower Jhelum Canal

Upper Pakpattan Canal

Upper Chenab Canal

Eastern Sadiqia Canal

Lower Chenab Canal

Fordwah Canal

Lower Bari Doab Canal

Upper Bahawal Canal

Central Bari Doab Canal

Qaim Canal

PUNJAB IRRIGATION SYSTEM

IMPACT OF INDUS WATERS TREATY

Government of the Punjab

Punjab Tarbela Command Canals

Thal Canal

Mailsi Canal

Muzaffargarh Canal

Lower Bahawal Canal

Dera Ghazi Canal

Panjnad Canal

Haveli Canal

Abbasia Canal

Sidhnai Canal

Abbasi Link Canal

Rangpur Canal

Greater Thal Canal

Lower Pakpattan Canal

Chashma Right Bank Canal

Government of the Punjab

INDUS BASIN WATER REQUIREMENTS

Province

Main Canal
Systems
(No.)

Command Area

Average Uses

(M. Acres)

(MAF)

Water Accord
Share
(MAF)

Punjab

25

21.0

54.49

55.94

Sindh

15

12.8

43.04

48.76

KPK

10

0.73

3.09

5.78

Balochistan

0.97

2.11

3.87
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PUNJAB IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Government of the Punjab

In post Treaty period Punjab canals receive water from the following
two sources

Mangla Command Canals receive the available flow supplies in

Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej Rivers supplemented by releases from
Mangla Reservoir. These Canals irrigate about 13 Million acres in
Northern & Central Punjab Districts

Tarbela Command Canals receive flow supplies of Kabul River

and releases from Tarbela Reservoir. These Canals irrigate about
8 Million Acres in Southern Punjab Districts
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PAKISTAN IRRIGATION NETWORK

BELOW RIM STATIONS
Canals No.

Command Area
(M-Acres)

Government of the Punjab

Mangla Command
Punjab

13

13.0

KPK

0.32

Punjab

12

8.0

Sindh

15

13.2

Balochistan

0.82

Total

44

35.4

Tarbela Command

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13

Government of the Punjab

WATER APPORTIONMENT ACCORD

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Government of the Punjab

Controversy Regarding Sharing Of Indus Basin Rivers Supply

Between Punjab And Sindh Arose In 1921.

The Then Govt. Of India Appointed Various Commissions /

Committees To Resolve This Issue.

Anderson Committee Appointed In 1935 Determined Shares Of Each

Canal In Punjab And Sindh Which Remained Operative Till 1947.

Sharing Arrangements In Vogue In 1947 Remained Operative Till 1970

Under Provisions Of Indus Waters Treaty Signed With India.

Govt. Of Pakistan Appointed Akhtar Hussain Committee (1968)

Fazal-e-akbar Committee (1970) And Haleem Commission (1983)
But No
Decision Could Be Finalized.

Availabile River Supply Shared On Adhoc Basis From 1971 To

1991 Mainly According To Historic Uses.

Water Apportionment Accord Agreed In 1991 And Is Operative Since

Then.

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Government of the Punjab

WATER SHARING ARRANGEMENTS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Pre-1947

According to share of each Canal System determined

by various Commissions and Committees appointed by
the then Govt. of India

1947 1970

As per Pre-1947 arrangements

1971 1990

On Adhoc basis as determined by Federal Ministry of

Water and Power primarily based on Historic Uses

1991 to date

As per provisions of Water Apportionment

Accord of 1991
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APPORTIONMENT OF WATERS OF THE INDUS RIVER

SYSTEM BETWEEN THE PROVINCES-ACCORD 1991
(MAF)

Government of the Punjab

PROVINCES

KHARIF

RABI

TOTAL

PUNJAB

37.07

18.87

55.94

SINDH*

33.94

14.82

48.76

3.48

2.30

5.78

CIVIL CANALS (b)**

1.80

1.20

3.00

BALUCHISTAN

2.85

1.02

3.87

TOTAL

77.34

37.01

114.35

CIVIL CANALS (b)**

1.80

1.20

3.00

N.W.F.P

(a)

* Including Already Sanctioned Urban And Industrial Uses For

Metropolitan Karachi.
**Un-gauged Civil Canals Above The Rim Stations.
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Government of the Punjab

PARA (3)
NWFP / Balochistan Projects which are under execution have
been provided their authorized quota of water as existing uses.
PARA (4)
Balance River supplies (including flood supplies and future
storages).
Punjab
37%

Sindh
37%

Balochistan
12%

NWFP
14%

Total
100%

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SALIENT FEATURES OF ACCORD 1991

Government of the Punjab

Existing uses of Provinces remain untouched and protected.

No restrictions on Balochistan to develop Water Resources of Indus

Tributaries flowing through its area.
Water sharing mechanism defined in Para 14(b).
Provinces are free to utilize their share in any Canal System including
Link Canals.
Need for additional storages on the Indus and other Rivers admitted.
Need for establishing Indus River System Authority recognized.
IRSA to have representation from the four Provinces.
Provinces free to undertake new Projects within their agreed shares.
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WATER APPORTIONMENT ACCORD

ACTUAL AVERAGE SYSTEM USES 1977-82
(MAF)

KHARIF

RABI

TOTAL

(MAF)

(MAF)

(MAF)

PUNJAB

34.66

19.83

54.49

SINDH

28.11

14.93

43.04

KPK

1.80

1.28

*3.09

BALUCHISTAN

1.29

0.82

2.11

TOTAL

65.86

36.87

102.73

Government of the Punjab

PROVINCE

* Excluding about 3 MAF of Civil Canals in KPK

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WATER APPORTIONMENT ACCORD

KHARIF

TOTAL

Accord
Allocations

Avg Uses
77-82

Accord
Allocations

Avg Uses
77-82

Accord
Allocations

Avg Uses 7782

PUNJAB

37.07
(+7%)

34.66

18.87
(-4%)

19.83

55.94
(+3%)

54.49

SINDH

33.94
(+21%)

28.11

14.82
(-1%)

14.93

48.76
(+13%)

43.04

NWFP

3.48
(+93%)

1.80

2.30
(+78%)

1.29

5.78
(+87%)

3.09

1.80

N.A.

1.20

N.A.

3.00

N.A.

2.85
(+121%)

1.29

1.02
(+24%)

0.82

3.87
(+83%)

2.11

77.34

65.86

37.01

36.87

114.35

102.73

1.80

N.A.

1.20

N.A.

3.0

N.A.

PROVINCE

Government of the Punjab

RABI

(a)

CIVIL CANAL(b)

BLOCHISTAN

Total
CIVIL CANAL(b)

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SHARING MECHANISM

Government of the Punjab

PARA 14(b) OF ACCORD

14(b)

The record of actual Average System uses for the period 197782 would form the guide line for developing a future regulation
pattern. These ten daily uses would be adjusted pro-rata to
correspond to indicated seasonal allocations of the different
canal systems and would form the basis for sharing
shortages and surpluses on all Pakistan basis.

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Government of the Punjab

INDUS RIVER SYSTEM AUTHORITY

to

IRSA was established under an Act of the Parliament in 1992

implement the Water Accord.

IRSA Comprises Five Members. One from each Province and

one from Federal Government.

First Chairman Member Balochistan followed by NWFP,

Punjab, Sindh and Federal.

Term of Office
Chairman

One Year

Member

Three Years

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Government of the Punjab

DECISION MAKING PROCESS IN IRSA

Decisions are taken by majority votes.

In case of equality of votes, Chairman exercises casting vote.

Aggrieved party to approach Council of Common Interest for

re-dressal.

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WATER DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURE

Government of the Punjab

IRSA prepares the Forecast of Water Availability for Kharif and

Rabi crops.

Based on Water Availability Forecast IRSA determines Provincial

shares according to Water Accord Provisions.

Punjab prepares Canal Operation / Distribution Programme based

on its share in consultation with Punjab Agriculture Department.

If Punjab share is short of requirements Rotational Programme of

operation of channels is prepared and implemented by the field
formations.

Wide publicity is given to the Canal Operation Programme through

Press and Electronic Media.
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WATER DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURE

At village level Warabandi Programme of each Outlet is

Government of the Punjab

prepared and operated in consultation with Khal punchayts.

IRSA closely monitor water utilized by each Province to ensure

that it remains with in the Provincial share.

Director Indus Waters Treaty & Regulation in the Irrigation

Department is to regulate and operate Punjab Canals

to

according

Punjab Share.

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WATER DISTRIBUTION ISSUES

Sindh holds the view that available water should be distributed in

proportion to the Provincial shares allocated under Para (2) of

Government of the Punjab

the Water Accord.

Punjab emphasizes that the mechanism for distribution of

available water is laid down in Para 14(b) of the Water Accord

stipulates that the surpluses and shortages are to be
basis of

which

shared on the

1977-82 Average System Uses.

Presently the average water availability is around 103 MAF

against 114.35 MAF allocated to Provinces under Para (2).

Shortfall in the existing and Para(2) allocations is about 11.0 MAF

which can be made good only by constructing new Mega Dams.
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WATER DISTRIBUTION ISSUES

Calculations indicate that if existing availability (103 MAF) is

Government of the Punjab

distributed according to Accord Para (2) Punjabs existing

uses during Kharif would reduce by 10% and Sindhs existing
uses would be enhanced by 1.2%. This would negate the
assurances given in the Accord.

Keeping in view the Provincial views of Sindh and Punjab

IRSA adopted a three tier formula in Kharif 2003 with the

approval

of the four Provinces. This formula is well with in the

ambit of

Water Accord and is in operation since the last fifteen

crop

seasons.
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WATER SHARING ARRANGEMENTS FOLLOWED BY

IRSA AS PER WATER ACCORD.
(Three Tier Formula)

Government of the Punjab

If water availability is equal to or less In ratio of Average System uses of 1977than 1977-82 Average System Uses.
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If water availability is more than As per Average System uses of 1977-82
Average System Uses but less than and additional availability according to
Para (2) Allocations.
Para (2) Allocations.
If water availability is equal to Para (2) As per Para (2) Allocations.
Allocations.
If water availability is more than Para According to Para (2) Allocations Plus
balance according to Para 4 (Flood
(2) Allocations.
Supplies)
Pakhtoon Khaw and Balochistan are exempted from sharing shortages.

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CHALLENGES FOR PAKISTAN IN THE

IMPENDING WATER SCRACITY REGIME

Government of the Punjab

Effect of climate changes on the river flows.

Loss of Mangla and Tarbela reservoirs storage capacities due to
sedimentation.

Increasing

demand

of

water

due

to

population

growth,

development in the Agriculture Sector, Industrial Sector, domestic

uses and water supply needs.

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CHALLENGES FOR PAKISTAN IN THE

IMPENDING WATER SCRACITY REGIME
Depletion of Ground Water level due to excessive pumping from
Government of the Punjab

the ground water reservoir.

Conflict and disputes on sharing of water shortages amongst the

stake holders.
Loss of water in river reaches and low Irrigation efficiencies.
Food security and water shortages.

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CHALLENGES FOR PAKISTAN IN THE

IMPENDING WATER SCRACITY REGIME
Development of water resources in Pakistan like construction of
Government of the Punjab

new storage Dams.

Conservations of the existing Water availability by:
i)

Lining of Channels and water courses.

ii)

Change of cropping pattern to suit the existing water

availability and switching over to low delta crops as
compared to crops requiring more water.

iii)

Improving Irrigation techniques and switching over to

sprinkling and drip irrigation methods where ever possible.
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Government of the Punjab

THANKS

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