Water Is The Most Essential Commodity For Those Near The Indus River.

We all need water to survive and many countries depend on the rivers that run through them for the essential water supply for people, animals and crops. When the river is blocked near its source this can have devastating effects for those living further down stream.

This has happened in Pakistan due to the fact that India has built a water blockade at Chenab. The Pakistan government has now put together a plan to avoid it's people having to suffer in the future.

This is best described by the The News International

Govt to build MMC to offset Chenab blockade

By By Khalid Mustafa 9/26/2008

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to construct the strategic Mangla-Marala Canal (MMC) project to offset the adverse impact of any future Chenab water blockade by India, a senior official at the Ministry of Water and Power told The News.“The Mangla-Marala Canal will not only ensure the watering of 10 million acres of land in the Punjab which gets damaged because of the Chenab water blockade by India, but also guarantee water in two defence canals in Sialkot which emerge from Head Marala and irrigate the central Punjab.

”“The Engineering Corps of the armed forces and the National Engineering Services of Pakistan, Wapda and the Government of Punjab would put their heads together to first work on the PC-1 of the Mangla-Marala Link Canal project and then execute the project. The MMC will carry water from the Mangla reservoir to Head Marala from where the two defence canals get water and irrigate the central Punjab.”

The federal government, to this effect, has given the task to Wapda to initiate work on this very important project. Under the plan, the water from Jhelum river is to be taken to Chenab whenever the said river would be in short of water to ensure survival of the crops.

The government also decided to integrate the whole water system in Pakistan to avert any such adventure by India in future. It was also decided that water from Indus (Kalabagh) was to be taken to Jhelum (Rasool barrage) and from Jhelum (Mangla) to Chenab (Headmarala) command area so as to ensure water in every corner of the country. In case of water stress in Indus, water from Jhelum or Chenab could also be taken to area which falls under Indus river command.

This vital and strategic decision was taken in a very crucial meeting held on September 16 with Minister of Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf in the chair. That particular meeting was convened on reduction in flows of River Chenab at Marala headworks because of violation of Indus water Treaty by India which reduced Chenab flows to Pakistan for filling up the dead shortage of Baglihar HPP beyond August 31, 2008.

When contacted Pakistan’s Commissioner of Indus Water Syed Jamaat Ali Shah confirmed the development saying that Federal Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in September 16 meeting has asked Wapda to initiate the MMC project to combat the Indian designs.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=137938