HYDERABAD: Moot calls for water release below Kotri
By Bureau Report
HYDERABAD, April 27: Leaders of various political parties, social welfare organisations and agriculture and irrigation experts were unanimous in their criticism over the construction of various water projects on River Indus and its tributaries as well as the termination of water discharge downstream Kotri.
They were speaking at a seminar on the ‘Water Problems of Pakistan,’ jointly organised by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Actionaid, an NGO, at a local hotel here on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, a leader of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Taj Hyder expressed his resentment over dams being built over the tributaries of the River Indus, saying that Sindh faced its biggest problem in the shape of non- implementation of the 1991 water accord.
Conceding that differences had existed between the Sindh and Punjab leaderships of the PPP over the construction of the Kalabagh dam, he said that the PPP was now unified on the water issue.
He said that consensus now existed in the PPP that the
construction of water reservoirs or dams should not be undertaken if any of the provinces had any objection regarding the project.
Opposing the construction of the greater Thal canal, the PPP leader expressed his agreement with a suggestion to appoint an inquiry commission to determine the role of bureaucrats of Sindh, who had been accused of damaging the province’s cause in connection with the water issue.
Demanding relief for the people, who had been affected by the construction of the water projects, he said alternative viable options should be explored to replace the construction of controversial canals and dams without endangering the country’s development or the prosperity of the people.
He also urged the people to rise against dictatorship.
One of the prominent leaders of the Balochistan National Movement, Abdul Hayee Baloch, while presiding over the second session of the seminar, condemned the destruction of the Indus delta.
Mr Baloch said that there was no single political party at the national level, which could claim to represent the middle class.
He said that controversies, including the water issue, were related to the issue of equal representation and equitable share in power.
Stressing the need for national unity for securing the people’s rights, the BNM leader said that targeting Punjab would accomplish nothing.
Accusing the establishment of ruling the country with the help of the old and new feudal lords, he said that it was necessary to enforce the will of the people and reverting the power back to the people for resolution of problems.
One of the leaders of the Seraiki Qaumi Movement, Hameed Asghar Shaheen, described the issue of the construction of the Thal canal as being the joint problem of Sindh and the Seraiki areas, and accused the ruling elite of a particular province of wanting to physically take over the waters of the River Indus.
He stressed the need for carrying out new studies to find viable options for resolving controversies over the issue of water distribution.
Another speaker, Sikandar Brohi, used slides to present evidence regarding destruction of the Indus delta because of the non-availability of water downstream Kotri.
Mr Brohi claimed that habitation had all but disappeared over an area of 25,000 acres.
Others, who spoke on the occasion, included Nazeer Memon, G. N. Mughal, Mazhar Nawaz, Zaigham Khan, Fazal Rab, Majeed Mangrio, Ghulam Hussain Malookani, Ms Farhana Wagha and Mohammad Ali Shah.
