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Effects of water shortage on Sindh agri-sector discussed

HAFEEZ SHAIKH

HYDERABAD: Problems confronting the agriculture sector of Sindh with particular reference to the shortage of irrigation water were discussed thread-bare at an "Irrigation Seminar" organised by the Sindh Abadgar Board at a local hotel here on Thursday.

A large number of growers and irrigation experts from Ghotki to Malir, Karachi, attended the seminar and expressed their views on the problems faced by the agriculture sector of Sindh.

Speaking as chief guest, Sindh Minister for Irrigation, Power and Communication, Engineer A.N.G Abbasi pointed out that irrigation was one of the most important department in any province and country, particularly where there is no rainfall.

He said in such a situation the agriculture sector entirely depended on the construction of barrages, canals and water courses. He said the reasons for the shortage of water in Pakistan were that there was more land to be cultivated compared to the available water resources and tremendous increase in the population necessitating that more land should be brought under the plough. Other reason for the shortage of water was mismanagement in the distribution of water he added.

He said, lining of water courses was necessary but it required huge investment. The World Bank had agreed to extend support but at the most 15 to 20 percent of canals and water courses could be covered under this programme, he added.

He said the only solution was that the cansls and water courses should be properly maintained.

Referring to criticism of speakers on Water Accord 1991, the minister observed that Sindh Assembly was the only exception which had adopted a resolution thanking the federal government for allocating enough water to Sindh. Other provinces had claimed that they had given sacrifices for Sindh, Abbasi added.

He said the real issue was that the Water Accord should be implemented in letter and spirit and the shortages should be shared by all the provinces judiciously and equitably.

He said that the Sindh Governor had made a strong representation to the federal government that the representatives of Sindh should be included in Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

The minister informed the seminar that the Sindh Government was not oblivious to the shortage of irrigation water as on two occasions it had strongly prevailed upon the federal government and IRSA to release water for Sindh. On the demand of Sindh the reservior level of Tarbela Dam had been lowered to 1334 feet.

He further said that on the demand of Sindh the link canals had been closed resulting in water outflow from Tarbela Dam was 5000 cusecs more than the inflow.

He disclosed that the Sindh Government had released 5000 cusecs of water from Sukkur Barrage which had started reaching Kotri barrage on Thursday and more water will be released from Sukkur Barrage to down-stream on April 1.

He pointed out that it was necessary to provide water to those areas first where it was direly needed for human consumption and crops.

He said that the federal government had agreed on the persistent demand of Sindh not to release the effluent of RBOD into Manchar Lake.

About the LBOD, he said, it had been proved that the designing of tidal link and Chholari ware defective and a committee of experts had been appointed in this regard.

Abbasi disclosed that the District Council had released Rs 45 million only on Wednesday for the construction of Thado Dam, Malir.

Speaking on the occasion, president of Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers Association, Gada Hussain Mahesar a said that since 1871 Punjab had been attempting to usurp the waters of River Indus and violated all water agreements.

He claimed that Punjab had 2,500 million acre feet of underground sweet water whereas Sindh had only 300 million acre feet, hence Punjab could do without the waters of River Indus, whereas Sindh could not.

He demanded that Sindh should be given its due share of water, encroachments on canal paths should be removed, distribution system, which was in the hands of darogha, should be streamlined, drainage system should be improved and the poisonous water of Balochistan should be stopped from entering Sindh.

Former member of Mujlis-e-Shoora Rasool Bux Baloch from Malir pointed out that the cost of agricultural production per acre was Rs 18,000 which was many times more when compared with other areas.

He stressed the need for building small dams as the underground sweet water was available at 600 feet and it was extremely costly to instal tube wells.

Former Chief Engineer Mohammad Khan Memon suggested that a high level committee should be appointed including representatives of Abadgars to ensure the implementation of Water Accord.

He said correct statistics should be given on TV about the available water resources and distribution to inform the general public.

Former Senator Makhdoom Khaliquzzaman of Hala said no shackle could be placed on the mighty River Indus and added that even Alexander the Great had termed River Indus as invincible. He made it clear that people of Sindh could neither surrunder Indus nor compromise over its waters.

The former Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Syed Zafar Ali Shah said there was no transparency in the distribution of water which had become over centralised and added that the people had lost faith in IRSA and were unable to understand the policies of Wapda.

Shah Saheb observed that with the change in pattern of crops in Sindh, the water requirements of the province had also increased.

Former caretaker federal minister and president of "The Reformers", Nisar Memon said that water for Sindh was as important as the blood flowing in the veins of Sindhi people.

He said the people had the right to share the information about the shortage of water and the reasons thereof. He demanded a judicial inquiry should be instituted to fix responsibility and identify the reasons and causes for the shortage of water.

He demanded that water emergency should be declared, a monitoring board should be appointed to oversee the availability and distribution of water, abadgars be given representation on IRSA and facts and figures relating to water for last five years should be released.

Quoting Article 153 and 155 of the Constitution of Pakistan, Memon demanded that a complaint about the shortage of water should be lodged with the Council of Common Interest.

Former chairman of Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Abdul Rasool Memon said during his tenure 23000 cusecs water had never been released in Cheshma-Jehlum link canal as had been done now, and if an impartial inquiry was held and his allegations that Punjab had taken more water were not proved then he was prepared to be hanged.

Winding up the seminar, the President of Sindh Abadgar Board Ali Mir Shah said that the misfortunes of Sindh started on the day when East Pakistan became Bangladesh which used to arbitrate in the inter provincial disputes but now everything was in the hands of Punjab.

Commenting on the disbanding of IRSA, Ali Mir Shah said that agreements and constitutions in Pakistan were often violated. He said that Kotri Barrage was denied water by advancing the arguments that the area was non-perennial, adding that human beings also need water who were not non-perennial.

He demanded equitable and judicious intra-provincial and inter-provincial distribution of water, priority to Kotri Barrage which was at the tail end, stopage of RBOD poisonous water disposal in River Indus, setting up of inquiry body into rampant corruption in the LBOD project and Wapda at provincial level under the authority of the provincial government.