HYDERABAD / LAHORE: The PPP has once again urged the federal government to resolve the issue of new canals on the Indus river; otherwise, the party may quit the ruling coalition in the Centre.

The threat came as Punjab accused Sindh of fudging the discharged water data and `eating into its share of water`.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday said the province`s case on new canals on the Indus River was `very strong`and no one can disregard it.

`We have that strong evidence and viewpoint that anyone listening this case would drop this plan.

And I do not think that anyone can reject our viewpoint,` CM Shah told journalists.

Sindh has opposed the new canals and which it claims would reduce the province`s share of water.

The provincial government has also submitted a summary before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on the Cholistan, Greater Thal Canal phase-II and other canals being built on the Indus River.

The PPP leadership has made itclear that the proposed canals would not be built over the Indus river, Mr Shah added while talking to journalists in Sehwan on the 18th death anniversary of his father, Syed Abdullah Shah.

CM Shah added that PPP ChairmanBilawalBhutto-Zardari will soon address a public meeting in Hyderabad on Friday.

The PPP chief is expected to speak on the issue of canals at the public rally.

CM Shah added that Mr Bhutto-Zardari made it clear in his in Garhi Khuda Bux on April 4 that his party would `side with the masses and not the prime minister` if a decision was made to build the canal.

Quitting the coalition A PPP leader in Punjab have asked the federal government to call a CCI meeting to resolve the canals` controversy.

PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza said his party would take any `extreme step`, including quitting the ruling coalition, if its concerns weren`t addressed.

`Everyone should work according to the agreed distribution of water,` Mr Murtaza said, while referringto eachprovince`sshare of water outlined in the Water Apportionment Accord, 1991, `We are already suffering from a water shortage. No one is answering the question as to fromwhere the water will flow into the six canals.

He claimed the country was already facing a 20 per cent water shortfall and asked how this shortage would be met.

Mr Murtaza also dismissed the claim that President Asif Ali Zardari gave the approval to build the canals. The president `has never done anything against national interest`, Mr Murtaza said, challenging those who claim that the president gave his consent for the project to come up with documentary proof.

Punjab`s claims The water issue has pitted the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh against each other, with the former claiming water from its share was being given to the southern province.

The lower riparian province was also `underreporting discharge data` at its barrages, thePunjab irrigation department claimed in a letter to the chief engineer of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa).

The letter stated that the Irsa data showed Punjab was being given less water than its share.

Meanwhile, Sindh is being given `additional water` by jeopardising the storage of the Tarbela Dam and putting pressure on the Mangla reservoir.

The letter also claimed `significant underreporting` of discharge data at Sindhbarrages.

It added the province showed the Rice Canal to the west of Sukkur Barrage as closed, but it was flowing at 936 cubic feet per second (CFS).

`These inaccuracies threaten fair water distribution,` the Punjab irrigation department said and demanded Irsa to ensure `correct and transparent reporting from all Sindh barrages, especially Guddu and Sukkur`