River Indus faces worst water shortage of the last 100-year
River is facing up to 70per cent less water at the beginning of the kharif season affecting three major barrages in Sindh — Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri
A severe water shortage in River Indus has aggravated agricultural crisis across Pakistan as the river is facing up to 70per cent less water at the beginning of the kharif season, making it the worst situation during the last 100 years.
According to the Meteorological Department and the Irrigation Department, due to the lack of rainfall, the situation is directly affecting the three major barrages in Sindh — Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri.
The water level at these barrages has dropped to a dangerous level. As per recent data from the Irrigation Department, Guddu Barrage has both inflow and outflow of 21,912 cusecs, Sukkur Barrage has 17,630 cusecs inflow and 6,100 cusecs outflow, while Kotri Barrage reports only 4,590 cusecs inflow and a very low 190 cusecs outflow.
Experts warn that this amount of water is not only insufficient for agriculture but may also cause drinking water shortages in urban areas. The kharif season is critical for the cultivation of major crops of cotton, rice, sugarcane, and others. A continued water crisis could result in major losses for farmers and the national economy.