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Lining of Water Courses in Sindh
Karachi-Sindh Government has accorded ``priority'' to the
expeditious lining of thousands of water courses across the
province as it would increase production of major crops
including cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane by 15 to 30%,
besides lowering sub soil water table for checking mencace of
water logging and salinity.
There are about 43000 water courses linked with three three
barrages at Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri in the province. Of these
so far only 7000 water courses have been lined. Much more work
in this regard has been done in the Provinces of Punjab and
the NWFP.
After the recent drought in the province, the Provincial
Government had given priority to lining of 6000 water courses
with the help of donor agencies. The programme was
discontinued two years back after donor agencies expressed
inability to provide adequate funds. Speaking in Bilmushafa
programme of Radio Pakistan Karachi on Tuesday, the Provincial
Minister for Water and Irrigation Syed Ali Meer Shah said now
the World Bank and other agencies were providing funds for
lining a number of water courses in Sindh under the On Farm
Management Project Phase 4.
Moreover, under Khushal Pakistan Programme, every district of
the province has been 20 water courses each for lining. In
addition 1750 courses in Nara area were also in various phases
of lining. There is imperative need for judicious use of
available water in Sindh by checking its wastage. There is
scarcity of water in the province. ``It is all the more
essential to ensure prudent use of water'', stressed the
Minister. Responding to a question, he said recent research
had revealed that water losses in the province were caused due
to seepage.
He emphasized that through corrective measures at least 30%
wastage of water could be checked. Answering a question, Syed
Ali Meer Shah said there was 3.50 crore acres of agricultural
land in the province. Sindh had share of irrigation water of
49 million acre feet (MAF), under the water accord among the
provinces, which it was getting.
There is less fresh water and more saline sub-soil water in
the province as it was located on the delta. He said after
recent drought in the province, the provincial government was
giving subsidy to the farmers and zamindars for lining of
their water courses on priority basis. The Minister felt it
was the responsibility of farmers and zamindars to give
priority for lining of their water courses. He assured the
provincial government would provide them subsidy in this
connection.
December 11, 2001
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