From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Instead of constructing “six strategic canals” over the Indus River in Punjab, Sindh growers have appealed to the government to implement the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 in letter and spirit and enhance water storage capacity, while prioritising the completion of the Diamer-Bhasha dam project on a war footing.
The construction of the canals may cause a more acute water shortage in the province, which is already clamouring against 40% to 45% water shortages annually because of unjust distribution of water.
They said the water flow of the system at the time of the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 has significantly reduced by up to 25% to 30% in a year due to less rainfall and other factors. They said the underground water of Sindh is neither cultivable nor drinkable, while the underground water of Punjab can be utilised to irrigate agricultural lands and for drinking purposes.
Speaking to media, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) Senior Vice President and progressive grower Nabi Bux Sathio said the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) should take back its approval for this project. He stated that this controversial proposal must be rejected by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) or the Council of Common Interest (CCI), as both must declare that no work will proceed on the controversial six strategic canals over the Indus River.
He said the Cholistan bed is not fertile as farmers need essential nutrients in the land such as nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, potash, and zinc to grow crops. Cholistan’s land, being desert terrain, lacks fertility. Furthermore, the layers of soil there are unstable as strong winds blow away sand up to two to three inches deep. If someone artificially induces some fertility in the land, it will not be sustainable and will vanish due to strong winds.
He said the people of Sindh cannot trust the impartial distribution of water through these six canals. Even if the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) issues a water availability certificate, it lacks credibility as the project was approved without proper groundwork.
Farmer Organisations Council Sindh Chairman and small grower Jawaid Junejo said, “The six new canals will pose a serious threat to the entire agriculture sector of Sindh and Balochistan. Tail-end districts such as Tharparkar and Umerkot are deprived of water these days, while other tail-end areas, including Mirpurkhas and Badin, are already facing severe shortages. We, all growers, reject these proposed canals as they would bring disaster to the province, depriving us of irrigation and even drinking water.”
He said the government must prioritise constructing small dams in Sindh to store rainwater rather than pursuing the controversial canals.
All grower bodies in Sindh have raised a strong voice against the construction of the six strategic canals. They have demanded that the government halt this project.
