ISLAMABAD, March 29, 2011: The Supreme Court on Monday directed chief secretaries of Sindh and Balochistan to ensure immediate repair of Kirther Canal in order to make the cultivation of Kharif crop possible and submit report to the court by April 15.

A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muahammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, is hearing a suo motu case regarding unauthorised diversion of floodwater and breaches made in the embankments of barrages and canals by influential people to save their lands during the devastating floods last year.

Petitioner Marvi Memon appeared in person before the court and submitted that she had not yet received the interim report, filed by the Flood Commission. Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the Kirther Canal suffered major destruction during the floods. 
 

He said this canal provides the bulk of water to Jaffarabad Division and its immediate repair is necessary to make the cultivation of Kharif crop possible. He further said that farmers are suffering a lot on account of rise in the prices of fertilisers and seeds.

The court directed the concerned authorities to accelerate the rehabilitation work and ensure timely supply of water to the farmers. Additional Advocate General Balochistan and Chief Engineer Irrigation Department, Sindh, also appeared before the court.

The Flood Commission submitted its interim report the other day in which it pointed out that the irrigation infrastructure in the province of Balochistan suffered huge damage during the July 2010 flood, most of which has still not been repaired. This is causing major problems to the people of the affected areas, especially Jaffarabad Division, as water is not available for cultivation or even for human/cattle consumption.

During the field visit, the members of the commission met the flood-affected people in Dera Allah Yar. The commission members also had an aerial view of the damaged infrastructure. The court took notice of the matter on issuance of letters by renowned lawyer Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali, Dr Asad Leghari, Muhammad Rahim Baloch and Advocate Zahida Thebo.

They alleged that unauthorised diversion of floodwater by influential landowners had badly affected the people and caused unprecedented damage to property in rural areas of Sindh and Jaffarabad district of Balochistan.


Courtesy: The News