KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a stay order on the water availability certificate granted by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for the construction of canals in Cholistan and Thal, an issue that has become a source of tension between the federal and provincial governments.
The IRSA had authorized the water supply for the Cholistan Canal System project and issued a water availability certificate to the Punjab government, despite opposition from Sindh. According to IRSA, Punjab was given approval to build the Cholistan Canal, which branches from the Sutlej River at Sulemanki Headworks, providing access to 450,000 acre-feet of water. However, this has been described as an “unfair move” for Sindh.
The water availability certificate, issued on January 25, was challenged by the petitioner’s lawyer, who argued that the formation of IRSA itself was illegal, highlighting that no member from Sindh had been appointed to the body, rendering its decisions and actions unlawful. During the court proceedings, the federal government requested additional time to submit its response. In response, the court directed the government to provide a detailed reply by April 18.
The Cholistan Canal project has been a point of contention between the Centre and the Sindh government ever since plans were revealed to construct six canals on the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert. The proposal was vehemently opposed by the Sindh government, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and various nationalist groups leading the charge.
The estimated cost of the Cholistan canal system stands at Rs211.4 billion, and the project aims to bring 400,000 acres of land under cultivation. The plan has sparked widespread protests across Sindh, with political and civil society groups alike voicing their opposition.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has repeatedly expressed reservations over the project, warning that unilateral actions by the federal government could strain the federation. He has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the canals project, threatening to withdraw his party’s support if the people of Sindh do not accept the proposal. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has made it clear that the project will not proceed as long as the PPP remains in power.
