KARACHI: Sindh and Balochistan are unable to get their full share of water from Hub Dam due to non-payment of dues to Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Hub Dam is under the control of WAPDA and both the provincial governments have not paid their dues; therefore, they are not getting their full share of water from the Dam, which is witnessing highest level of water by dint of recent monsoon rains in the country. It should be noted that 100 MGD (million gallons per day) of water is supplied to Sindh’s provincial capital Karachi for municipal and industrial purposes, two MGD for irrigation in Sindh, and 59 MGD is given to Balochistan. But at present WAPDA is providing 80 MGD to Sindh whereas 56 MGD of water is being provided to Balochistan against the designed capacity of 100 MGD and 59 MGD, respectively. “Releasing water at full capacity to both Sindh and Balochistan is not possible despite having enough water stock because of seepage issues and water losses at various points of out-drain Main Canal,” said a WAPDA official at Hub Dam on the condition of anonymity, adding that due to non-payment of dues from both the governments the cleanliness drive of 8-kilometers long Main Canal has not been made possible for quite some time. According to him, no operation and maintenance of the Canal was conducted for last twenty years therefore it is damaged at various points. The total outstanding amount which WAPDA is seeking from Sindh and Balochistan governments in terms of capital, operation, and maintenance is Rs 2184 million. Sindh owes Rs 1471 million while Balochistan has to pay Rs 713 millions to WAPDA. Out of total dues on Sindh, the outstanding amount of operations and maintenance only is Rs 717 million whereas Wapda had received Rs 74 million till September. Karachi Water Supply Board (KWSB) has recently written a letter to WAPDA complaining about not receiving its due share of water which is resulting in its the acute shortage in district south and nearby areas. “WAPDA’s claim for Rs 1471 million from the government of Sindh is not right and we think around Rs 30 million are the actual dues,” said Managing Director of KWSB Misbah Uddin Farid. According to Misbah, KWSB might not be able to pay its dues to WAPDA after receiving them from Sindh government. However, he added, WAPDA should release water in the best interest of public. “We are unable to understand why WAPDA has suddenly started making hue and cry over line losses and seepage when until recently it was releasing full quota of water to Karachi,” he added. It is worth adding here that during the current monsoon season water level at Hub Dam has touched 305 feet, whereas it had reached 289.25 feet in 2014 and 290.60 feet in 2015.