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Water crisis:
famine feared in Sindh
By Our Correspondent
SANGHAR, March 15: A famine-like situation looms large over
Sindh due to the persisting drought and acute shortage of
irrigation water. The canals are dry and at some places even
drinking water is not available.
Though the government has announced the closure of canals in
Punjab to divert water for Sindh, the people here do not
believe in such announcements as similar pledges have been
made in the past but the situation remained the same and Sindh
received even lesser quantity.
A survey conducted by this scribe revealed that during the
last 365 days water was supplied merely for an average of 80
days. The water table went down, wells and hand pumps at
shallow depths had dried up and had to be dug deeper in search
of water.
The Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) tube wells are adding to
the miseries of the people as the LBOD authorities have kept
on operating these tube wells to lower the water table
according to schedule to show-off their performance to donors
without keeping in mind the present drought-like conditions.
The local farmers considered the raised water table as a
blessing in disguise and consider the more than Rs30 billion
worth LBOD project a wastage of money as the water table could
have been lowered by better water management methods.
Experts opine unanimously that due to the non-availability of
water, the mighty Indus was dying as it had dried all the way
from the Kotri Barrage to the Keti Bunder because it had not
received any water since the last 11 months.
The Nara Canal which originates from the Indus at Sukkur and
was redesigned in 1858 used to discharge into the Rann of
Kuchh after traversing a distance of 320 miles. It carries
about 13,602 cusecs of water to irrigate 18.33 lac acres.
Its main canals are the Jamrao, Mithrao and Khipro. Besides,
it also provides water to the lakes of Makhi Belo, Chhotiari,
and Bakkaar.
Sanghar District stood on the top in growing cotton and wheat
in Sindh. Now it is facing a famine-like situation since the
last three years. In the past it used to provide food for the
famine-stricken people of Achhro Thar but now it could not do
so.
Hundreds of Tharis had arrived here to harvest wheat, but
unfortunately there was no work available for them even though
they were ready to work at Rs35 to Rs45 a day. If no remedial
action was taken and the drought-like conditions persisted for
a few more months, these people were bound to face starvation.
The destruction of crops due to the non-availability of water
has also contributed to the deteriorating law and order
situation in the area. The district had always been considered
as a peaceful place but now it is no more so.
The unemployed youth waste their time watching movies, while
some others have joined the gangs of dacoits. This year the
yield of wheat is expected to be 50 per cent less in
comparison to last year.
At least 90 per cent of the fertile land in Jam Nawaz Ali
Taluka, 70 per cent in Sinjhoro Taluka, 60 per cent in Sanghar
Taluka, 50 per cent in Khipro Taluka, and 50 per cent in
Shahdadpur Taluka have been destroyed as they receive water
from the Rohri Canal which has gone dry.
Property has lost its market value and no one is ready to buy
land or take it on lease. Many lease holders have fled and
many have backed out from agreements after withdrawing from
advance payments.
The people have no money to buy seeds and fertilizers for
growing cotton. No middleman or money lender is ready to
provide them any loans fearing they would not be able to pay
it back due to the grim situation.
threatened: The president of the Federation of Commerce and
Trade, Sufi Abdul Haq, has received threats from unknown
persons. He along with the Taluka Nazim held a press
conference at taluka office here on Tuesday and expressed his
concern over deteriorating law and order situation in the
district.
The president of the FTC has threatened to give call for a
strike if the law and order situation is not improved.
March 16, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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