26 January 2004	Monday	03 Zilhaj 1424

HYDERABAD, Jan 25: Opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has opposed the construction of carryover dams on the Indus on the grounds water was not available for such dams.

He said this while talking to journalists at the residence of People's Party Parliamentarian leader Kausar Bhatti here on Sunday. Mr Khuhro said Pakistan was in danger due to arrogance of rulers and misuse of authority and added that no conscientious person could maintain silence under such circumstances.

He said one of major problems confronting the country was the distribution of water resources in an equitable manner. He said Sindh had rejected the construction of the greater Thal canal.

He said the international community had taken notice of the unviable water projects and added that the government had constituted illegal and unconstitutional water committees in order to hoodwink the people.

The PPP leader said the government had complicated the issue by appointing water committees. He targeted Senator Nisar Memon, the head of the parliamentary committee on water, and said that as far as Sindh was concerned, Mr Memon was a non-entity and had no authority to decide the fate of Sindh.

He pointed out that the Chashma Jehlum link canal was also supposed to operate only for two months but it had been converted to a perennial canal and added that the Thal canal was also not a flood canal but it would be a perennial canal.

He said the government neither had money nor technical know how to construct the dams and if the funds were raised through foreign loans, they would go waste.

The PPP leader said not only this but the project would also create hatred between the federating units and endanger the very foundations of Pakistan. He said the Sindh Assembly had rejected the Thal canal and the NFC in its present shape and added the unanimous resolutions of the Sindh Assembly should be respected.

Earlier, Mr Khuhro held a meeting with water experts, technocrats, intellectuals and agriculturists for about three hours. The meeting discussed issues and concerns of Sindh including the construction of the disputed water projects and the National Finance Commission Award. Ibrahim Joyo, Professor Mushtaq Mirani, Nazeer Memon, Zulfiqar Halepoto, Yousuf Leghari, Parvez Ansari and others were present on the occasion.