KARACHI, Feb 27: The Sindh Assembly concluded on Thursday the debate on the Greater Thal Canal Project, during which the project was termed a violation of the rights of the lower riparians and detrimental to the interests of Sindh.

The adjournment motion was moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Nisar Khuhro, and others who vehemently opposed the project, which they claimed was being built without prior approval and against the objections of the lower riparian province.

The opposition, however, could not convince the members to adopt a resolution against the Thal canal project.

Referring to the controversial 1991 water accord, the participants said there was no allocation for the Thal canal project in that accord. Their contention was that when there was not sufficient water to cater to the needs of the lower riparian, then how could water be provided for the project area. They claimed that it was being done by denying Sindh its due share.

Some of them claimed that the Indus Water Treaty and other decisions were taken during the One-Unit period and that Sindh was not represented at the talks and whatever money Pakistan got as a result of the concession, it was spent on development projects in Punjab and no project was planned for Sindh.

Leader of the Opposition Nisar Khuhro claimed that at the time of the 1991 water accord there was no Thal canal project which was being built without the approval of the constitutional body, and said the canal would turn more areas of the province into desert.

He also repudiated the treasury benches attempt to implicate the PPP government of 1994 for the water shortage and recalled various clauses of the 1991 water accord.

He said in the 1991 accord the need for storages was approved and referred to clause 8 of the accord which pertained to agreed share of water.

He referred to a document in which the representative of Sindh had dissented with some of the contentions of Punjab regarding the follow-up actions of the water accord.

“The statement of system-wise ten daily allocations of the province of Punjab attached with the summary for the Council of Common Interest (CCI) includes the allocations for the greater Thal Canal, which is an unsanctioned project. We do not agree with the inclusion of these allocations in the ten daily statements at this stage,” he had stated.

Mr Khuhro pointed out that “ten daily allocations for the provinces were presented before the CCI and it was agreed, except the inclusion of the allocations of the Greater Thal System, which is an unsanctioned project.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah claimed that the 1991 accord was not an agreement, but an understanding between chief ministers of the four provinces. He said the constitutional provisions were clear on the distribution of water between the provinces. He called for serious and immediate measures to abandon the under- construction project which had endangered life in Sindh.

MMA’s Maulana Umar Sadiq also strongly opposed the project and demanded that, in the light of the 1991 accord, an expert commission be constituted to determine the excess water’s availability to justify the project. He said the report of the commission should be placed in parliament for approval.

Saifullah Dharejo said the project was creating misunderstandings and friction between the provinces.

The lone MPA of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Younus Khan, also opposed the Thal canal project and supported the idea of staging a sit-in at Islamabad to press for the acceptance of Sindh’s demand for the abandonment of the project.

Provincial minister Irfanullah Marwat said the project was detrimental to the interests of Sindh, but claimed that the problem was being faced due to the 1994 agreement. He demanded that Sindh get its due share and hoped this issue would also be resolved like the NFC.

Dr Arbab Rahim claimed that the 1991 accord was in the interest of Sindh, and the 1994 ministerial agreement was not proper, nor was it in the interest of the province. He suggested that instead of passing resolutions against another province, it would be better to ensure due share of water to Sindh under the 1991 accord.

Senior minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, who was chief secretary of Sindh at the time of the 1991 water accord, also admitted that the Thal canal project was not included in that agreement.

Minister for irrigation Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi assured that Sindh’s interests would not be compromised and said the matter would be taken up in the CCI.

Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah adjourned the proceedings till Friday at 10am.