The Controversy of The Canals of Sindh: The Kalabagh Dam and the Impact of The Six Canals on The Indus River

Introduction:

The Indus River, which serves as a major source of water for Pakistan, meets the agricultural, ecosystemic, and economic needs of the country. Nonetheless, managing the river poses challenging questions, especially in Sindh, where differing perspectives about water distribution and the use of resources fuel arguments. Forefront are the raging issues surrounding the proposed Kalabagh Dam and the expected effects of building six additional canals on the Indus. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and understand these multidisciplinary issues including Sindh’s concerns as well as the repercussions for Pakistan as a whole. 

1. Water Management Pattern on The Indus Basin: The Historical Dimension 

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan divided the eastern rivers of India: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej; and the western rivers of Pakistan: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab. This treaty, together with the Indus Basin Irrigation System, formed one of the largest systems of interconnected irrigation in the whole world. This agreement however led to incessant disputes concerning the allocation of water resources, particularly between Punjab and Sindh owing to the colonial settlement works biasing the head of the river. In order to deal with these problems, the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 tried to fix these conflicts by uh, which was intended to, divide water sources.

The tensions that emerge from disagreement over water distribution in provinces were tried to be solved through the Water Apportionment Accord which was set forth in 1991. However, the implementation of it remains an issue to this day.

2. The Kalabagh Dam Controversy:

Overview: There is a proposal that has been made for the Kalabagh Dam in Punjab for 1984 with the aim of producing 3600 MW of hydroelectricity while also serving the purpose of storing 6.1 million acre feet or MAF for the sake of irrigation. The proponents of this claim that it would help in reducing the gaps faced in arteficial energy resources and even help in increasing agriculture. 

Sindh’s Opposition:

- Water Scarcity: Sindh is concerned that the flow of water that is available to them will no longer be sufficient to grow the crops that depend on the Kotri barrage for water. It is feared that the dam will worsen the existing drought by taking away 2.4 MAF of water breeches. 

- Environmental Impact: There is increased risk of reduction of even more flow into the delta to the indus river which is already suffering from grave saltwater intrusion and a great loss of mangroves. 

- Political Distrust: It is perceived that the project will use Punjab as a central area and thus hinder the freedom of other provinces. 

Stalemate: It is puzzling as to why support from the federal government has not proved to be sufficient due to the standstill from civil society as well as Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over fears of sedimentation. 

3. The Six Canals: Purpose and Potential Impact

The concern is especially heightened with the proposal for new Greater Thal canal and Kachhi Canal were made as IBIS has over 40 major ones. Although not specified, it is assumed that the existing ones will be of utmost importance.

- Water Diversion: New canals would prioritize Punjab’s agriculture, reducing Sindh’s share. For instance, the Thal Canal diverts 8,500 cusecs from the Indus, straining downstream availability.  

- Ecological Strain: Reduced flow disrupts sediment transport, increasing salinity and delta erosion.  

- Economic Disparities: Punjab’s agricultural gains could come at Sindh’s expense, where 70% rely on water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane.

4. Impact of Canal Building  

a. Environmental Effects  

- Delta Collapse: In comparison to 1833, the freshwater flow has greatly decreased leading to the Indus Delta shrinking by 92 percent. The Permittance Flow for the area south of Kotri is set at 35 MAF, however, the current water flow for this region is at 10 MAF.  

- Loss of Wildlife: The area's mangroves which are indispensable for fishing and carbon burial dropped from 600,000 hectares to 130,000 hectares.  

- Saltwater Intrusion: The lack of fresh water is making over 2 million hectares ofSindh experience salinity making these farmlands unproductive.  

b. Economic Effects  

- Agricultural Decline: Sindh has been facing food insecurity due to added climate change stressors, as amdari lands are unhindered by waters facing yield losses.  

- Fisheries Collapse: Sadly, the delta’s fisheries which supported a workforce of 200,000 have suffered due to loss of habitat.  

- Energy Costs: The increased costs of hydel and thermal power had made life expensive. Hydro in case of Sindh is heavily inequitable.  

c. Social and humanitarian Emergency.  

- Displacement: Since 1960, 90,000 coastal communities affected by flooding face displacement challenges making it difficult for them to reside in regions such as Keti Bander.  

- Health Issues: Most of the world's diseases stem from contaminated sources of water, out of which 88% of Sindh's rural people have completely clean water.  

- Migration: There is a noticeable amount of farmers relocating from the rural areas to metropolitan regions such as Karachi which worsens the unemployment problem.  

d. Political Issues  

- Inter-Provincial Tensions: Mistrust is cultivated due to fortune tellers of Punjab exploiting Sindh as their resource and blaming them as well.

5. Strategies for Resolution  

- Dialogue and Transparency: Equitable provincial representation needs to be rethought in IRSA’s structure, if not, then at least how equity is currently practiced.    

- Sustainable Alternatives: To ease pressure on the dams, solar energy, drizzle irrigation, and rain harvesting would be handy.  

- Delta Rehabilitation: International funding is needed to bring back the mangroves and improve water management through aid such as that provided in UNDP projects.   

- Legal Reforms: The 1991 Accord needs to be enforced while also looking at water rationing practices of other basins like the Nile.  

Conclusion  

Along with the Kalabagh Dam and the new canals lie problems of equity and sustainability that are too embedded to the water governance in Pakistan. Sindh’s problem considers the need for policies which are collaboratively crafted with an ecological sensitivity towards the ‘fix’ that is, sustainable long-term rather than the unsustainable short-term. If not, Pakistan faces the added unfortunate realities of environmental degradation meshed with social division which undermines the integrity of its federation. The Indus, which has always represented plenty, claims the duty of good governance.