The Sindh government has extended all the lockdown restrictions for two more weeks amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the province, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

This was announced by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Sunday at a press conference in Karachi. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13FBjev3qWg 

Murad Ali Shah urged people to follow SOPs and get vaccinated to save themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sindh CM also talked about water issuance and management by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) as chief executive of the province alleged that Sindh was provided 235 percent less water against the allocated share of 91,000 cusec from May 1 to May 10. Punjab share was 93,000 cusec. 

Murad Ali Shah alleged IRSA is making new laws on its own and even in the past, his government has raised objections on IRSA in 2000 and 2020. 

“This year we are facing water shortage but all provinces should get water on equal footing. Balochistan got more water against the set water share,” the CM said. 

IRSA letter to Sindh 

On the other hand, IRSA wrote a letter to the Sindh government titled ‘losses/escapes below Kotri barrage’ in which IRSA Director OPRS Muhammad Khalid Idrees Rana said, “I am directed to state that despite repeated requests from IRSA, still water is being escaped below Kotri Barrage without considering the fact that Sindh is continuously agitating for water shortages in Kotri Canals. During the period April 01 to May 22, 2021 the water escapages below Kotri Barrage are recorded at 0.052 MM (152,000 Acre Feet), as reported by PID Sindh.”

“It is also pointed out that since 14 May, 2021 d/s Sukkur releases arc 16,000 Cs but u/s Kotri is reported at 8000 Cs (less 8,000 Cs) and a loss of about 50 percent experienced en route, which is not only depriving the farmers community from their rightful share but also may create disparity in the Water Accounts updated on 10-daliv basis,” the letter reads.  

https://twitter.com/IrrigationPb/status/1396150280757071877

The IRSA letter reads, “It is therefore requested that besides controlling the escapages below Ken Barrage, investigate the matter of 50 percent losses between Sukkur-Kotri reach and report to IRSA for better management of the available resource.”