Experts urged to oppose water projects: President's Sindh visit
By Our Correspondent
SUKKUR, Dec 19: Intellectuals, writers and irrigation experts should jointly express their reservation against the construction of Kalabagh dam during the proposed visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to Sindh
and inform him about its adverse effects on Sindh.
This was stated by irrigation experts and elected representatives while addressing a seminar "Water crisis in Sindh and the construction of dams" here on Sunday. The Jagurta Forum organized the seminar.
Former Sindh Irrigation Secretary Idrees Rajput said there was no water to be stored in proposed dams. He said experts foreseeing the weather situation had concluded that there would be 43 per cent water shortage in the future, then where from water would come for the Kalabagh dam.
Mr Rajput said according to the government's decision, Rs2 billion would be spent on the construction of Kalabagh dam at the initial stage. He said at present 100 million acre water was available for irrigation of which 60 million acre was going waste due to a defective irrigation system in the country.
Mr Rajput advised the government to spend Rs2 billion for repair and upgrading the irrigation system including canals and watercourses which could be helpful in ending water crisis in the country.
He said the site selected for constructing Kalabagh dam was not suitable for it as the dam would be filled with slit within six to seven years. He said decisions taken in the IRSA had never been implemented.
He said during water shortage there was no need to store water in the Mangla dam and to supply water to link canals of Punjab. Former Sindh Irrigation Secretary Nasrullah Rajput pointed out that during the last five years it was said that a study would be conducted for irrigation water and betterment of environment below Kotri downstream but that study had not been done as yet.
He said when two years back it was decided to release water for Kotri downstream, then federal and Punjab governments opposed it due to which Thatta was inundated by the sea water.
He said no funds had been released as yet for the proposed study which was an atrocity with Sindh. He claimed that the greater Thal canal had been constructed without the permission of IRSA.
He said when the project was sent to the IRSA for provision of funds from the planning commission, then Sindh's representative in the IRSA expressed his reservations on the project but it was approved by tempting representatives of Balochistan and NWFP.
Former IRSA Chairman Noor Mohammad Baloch said though the 1991 Water Accord was not in the interest of Sindh but it was some how better than the previous water supply policy.
He said the Punjab government was against it as it was getting less water due to the plan. He said in 1994 another plan was made for a year on ad hoc basis which actually was not an accord. He said a committee was formed for the purpose which decided to implement the plan for a year.
Mr Baloch said the plan was shaped as an accord which caused a loss to Sindh. He said if Sindh was supplied water according to the 1991 accord then it would prove beneficial for agriculture of Sindh.
He said the Punjab government was insisting to release water according to the 1994 accord. MPA Dr Nasrullah Baloch, Rahim Bux Jaffery, Shabir Bedar Bhutto, Prof Aziz Ujjan, Shabbir Shar, Prof Abid Chandio, Hadi Bux Bhatt, Paryal Mari and Iqbal Detho also spoke on the occasion.
