SHC suspends IRSA water availability certificate for Cholistan canals

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued a stay order on the water availability certificate given by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), which was strongly opposed by Sindh.

IRSA issued a water availability certificate to the Punjab government on January 25 for the construction of Thal Canal Phase II and Cholistan Canal.

Under the water availability certificate, Punjab was allowed to construct the Cholistan Canal project, providing access to 450,000 acre-feet of water, which has been termed “an unfair move” for Sindh.

Senator Zameer Ghumro filed a petition in SHC, challenging the issuance of the water availability certificate for canals and the formation of the IRSA itself.

During the hearing, the federal government requested the court to grant time to file its reply. At this, the court directed the government to submit a detailed response by April 18.

The petitioner argued that no member from Sindh had been appointed to IRSA, making the body’s decisions and actions unlawful.

The Cholistan Canal project has become a matter of contention between the federal and provincial governments since the Centre announced plans to construct six canals on the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert.

The project was categorically rejected by its main ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and other Sindh nationalist parties and civil society organisations as they staged widespread rallies across the province.