Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Approves Water Supply for Cholistan Project

The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has granted approval for the supply of water to the Cholistan project.The Secretary of IRSA issued a water availability certificate to the Punjab government. Following IRSA’s approval, the Punjab government will begin extracting the Cholistan Canal from the Sutlej River at the Sulemanki Headworks. IRSA officials have stated that 450,000 acre-feet of water will be available for the Cholistan project.

However, IRSA’s member from Sindh, Ihsan Laghari, has written a dissenting note regarding the decision. He expressed disagreement with the Secretary of IRSA’s approval for the water supply to the Cholistan project, stating that issuing the water availability certificate to the Punjab government is unjust to Sindh. Laghari further mentioned that supplying water to the Cholistan project would reduce the water available from the Indus River, and clarified that the water being referred to by the Secretary of IRSA is not only from the Sutlej River, but will also be drawn via a link canal from the Sulemanki Headworks.

It is worth noting that recently, the “Green Pakistan” project was inaugurated in Cholistan, with Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Army Chief General Asim Munir attending the event.The opening ceremony included the launch of the Green Agri Mall and Services Company, Smart Agri Farm, Agricultural Research and Support Centers. The Green Agri Mall and Services Company will provide farmers with quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Meanwhile, in Sindh, various political parties are protesting against the plan to extract canals from the Indus River.