Water expert reveals facts behind Indus canals project

The federal government’s plan to draw canals from the Indus River has raised controversy and sparked protests across Sindh, with growing concerns from experts and political leaders.

Speaking on the private news channel program, water affairs expert Naseer Memon broke down the details and implications of the canal scheme.

He explained that this is not just a single canal project but a massive initiative split into two parts – Greater Cholistan and Smaller Cholistan. The current discussion revolves around the first phase of the Smaller Cholistan plan.

Under the broader Green Pakistan project, the plan aims to cultivate 4 to 5 million acres of barren land. To make this possible, 5 million acre-feet (MAF) of water is proposed to be diverted from the Chenab and Jhelum rivers toward the Sutlej – a river largely given to India under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

Memon explained that Sindh’s concerns are rooted in years of water shortages and fears that Punjab will receive additional water through this new canal system at the expense of lower riparian provinces.’

READ: GDA urges Karachi to join protest against Indus Canals Project

“For the last 25 years, IRSA has announced water shortages in April each year,” he said. “Even Punjab has been facing shortfalls – if water is already scarce, where will this 5 MAF come from?”

He also warned that drawing more water from Mangla Dam could worsen shortages downstream. “Whether water is diverted through new link canals or other means, the impact will eventually hit Sindh,” he stressed.

Public protests have been gaining momentum, with citizens from various towns and cities in Sindh taking to the streets.

Memon stressed that these are not politically staged protests. “People aren’t naive. They understand that their water rights are at risk,” he said.

Residents of Punjab are also questioning the feasibility of irrigating Cholistan if water resources are already pre-allocated and insufficient.

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