Replacing Colonial-Era Water Laws: A Modern Approach
- Sindh province is preparing a new, unified water law intended to modernize water governance adn address growing challenges posed by climate change, disaster mitigation, and environmental concerns.
- Currently under development by the Sindh Irrigation Department (SID), the new law will encompass all aspects of water management, from canal systems and drainage to groundwater and wetlands.
- The upcoming law seeks to consolidate the Sindh Irrigation Act of 1879 - a colonial-era regulation - and the Sindh Water Management Ordinance (SWMO) of 2002.
Sindh Province to Overhaul Water Management with New Law
Sindh province is preparing a new, unified water law intended to modernize water governance adn address growing challenges posed by climate change, disaster mitigation, and environmental concerns. The legislation aims to replace existing, outdated regulations and streamline the management of water resources across the province.
Currently under development by the Sindh Irrigation Department (SID), the new law will encompass all aspects of water management, from canal systems and drainage to groundwater and wetlands. It builds upon the Sindh Water and Agricultural Transformation (SWAT) project,a multi-million dollar initiative funded by the World Bank.
The upcoming law seeks to consolidate the Sindh Irrigation Act of 1879 - a colonial-era regulation – and the Sindh Water Management Ordinance (SWMO) of 2002. This consolidation will also determine the future of the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA), established under the SWMO 2002.
The SWMO, introduced with support from the World Bank, created SIDA to promote farmer participation in irrigation management through elected representatives in canal command areas. This ordinance also superseded the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage authority Act of 1997.
A new provincial law aims to merge century-old irrigation rules into a single framework to tackle climate change and ease management
for the past two decades, Sindh has operated with two parallel irrigation systems: one managed by SID and the other by SIDA.SIDA established Farmers Organisations (FOs) and Area Water boards (AWBs) to regulate water supply and collect water charges. Three autonomous AWBs – Ghotki, Nara, and Left Bank canals – were created within SIDA, featuring elected representation alongside government officials.
SIDA functioned as an autonomous body, led by managing directors primarily from SID, and maintained a dedicated headquarters in Hyderabad. The organization successfully implemented World Bank-funded projects, such as the Water sector Betterment Project (WSIP). meanwhile, SID continued to manage various foreign-funded irrigation programs, as well as flood control and drainage networks.
Historically, SID and SIDA have experienced operational friction over the last two decades.