KARACHI, Sept 23: The Sindh Assembly on Thursday began discussing the opposition's adjournment motion pertaining to shortage of water in the province ostensibly due to inequitable distribution from the Indus.
Opposition to the Greater Thal Canal and construction of reservoirs was debated during the session. The adjournment motion was taken up after Zuhr prayers with Speaker S. Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair.
While the treasury members complemented the government for taking the necessary steps to protect the province's interests, the opposition accused the authorities of compromising on the issue because of which a vast portion of land had been ravaged as there existed water shortage and intrusion of sea on a big scale.
The adjournment motion seeking a discussion on water shortage had been moved by leader of the opposition, Nisar Khuhro, and was admitted out of turn. Mr Khuhro was of the view that there was an acute water shortage for Kharif and distribution of water on a rotation basis would destroy the standing cotton, rice and sugarcane crops. The government agreed to discuss the issue.
However, the inconclusive debate did not reflect the gravity of the situation though some of the members claimed that inequitable distribution of Indus water was having far-reaching negative impact, including low agricultural output, brutalization of land because of low water table and displacement of people.
Ali Bukhsh Shah alias Pappoo Shah of PML(Q) initiated the discussion by praising the government for its efforts to get the 1991 water accord implemented. He said in 1991 the issue was resolved but in 1994 the agreement was broken and since then the people of Sindh had been facing problems. Instead of politicizing the issue everyone should unite because upon water depended national survival.
Ayaz Soomro of the PPP Parliamentarians from Larkana pointed out that in his district, which was the PPP leader Benazir Bhutto's area, rice was grown. But there was no water in its 164 water courses because these had simply not been desilted for the past 10 years.
Sweet water had turned brackish, claimed Mr Soomro. He pointed out that water was not available for the lands of Ms Bhutto and alleged that all this was being done deliberately.
He pointed out that despite Gen Musharraf's statement that no agricultural tax would be deducted if there was no water, in Larkana the same was being deducted forcibly.
Rajveer Singh also expressed concern over the shortage of water and asked the government to take appropriate punitive action against those who had breached the canals. He also demanded judicious distribution of water to the southern parts of the province.
Abdul Rahman Rajput of the MMA questioned the treasury members' ability to get for Sindh the desired share of water. This caused a brief uproar. Mr Rajput said not only Thatta but the whole of the province was brutalized due to water shortage. He said Sindh got less water due to transfers through Chashma-Jhelum link canal.
Now the government was proceeding with the construction of the Greater Thal Canal, disregarding the objection by people in Sindh. He said if such projects were allowed then Sindh would become barren and Punjab would thrive at its cost.
Treasury member Jam Madad Ali said the cotton crop was being adversely affected due to paucity of water. To add to the problem ginners had lowered the price of cotton.
He also demanded that before the wheat-sowing season good quality seed should be provided and the government policy in this regard should be made known. He said the manner in which credit was extended to flour and sugar mill owners, Abadgars should also be given money. He also demanded that rangers be withdrawn from the canals.
Syed Ahmad Ali Shah demanded that cases against some employees of the irrigation department should be sent to the NAB for not being aware of breaches in the Sukkur barrage.
Dr Manzoor Leghari demanded strict compliance of the 1991 water accord while Jam Mehtab asked if Punjab was not getting water more than its designated share. If this was untrue, how did it achieve a 12 per cent increase in acreage while 13 per cent was lost in Sindh.
While the discussion was continuing the house was adjourned until Friday. Earlier, when the proceedings commenced Syed Qaim Ali Shah on a point of order recorded the opposition's protest against the resolution on Gen Pervez Musharraf's uniform, claiming it violated the constitution.
On the request of Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the Speaker relaxed the rules and directed that his motions be taken up on Friday, which would be observed as a private members' day.
Kulsoom Nizamani of the MMA complained of misbehaviour by the police when she was trying to get to the Assembly building. She said even after she had introduced herself, the police personnel continued with their questionable attitude.
The speaker asked her to submit a written complaint so that action could be taken against the police officials. A similar complaint was lodged by Nasrullah Shaji.
