HYDERABAD, Aug 21: The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has rejected government experts’ report suggesting solution of the problem of sea erosion by means other than release of river water below Kotri.
At a meeting of the chamber held here on Sunday, it was resolved that the farming community would never accept the Kalabagh dam because it would totally destroy the agriculture sector of Sindh.
Syed Qamaruzzaman Shah presided over the meeting.
The vice-president of the chamber, Qazi Abdul Majeed, said the consultants had failed to determine quantum of water that should be released below Kotri Barrage to check the sea water from eroding agricultural lands.
He said the recommendation submitted by the consultants was that alternate ways and means be found to stop sea water from encroaching lands.
Rejecting the report of the consultants, the chamber demanded that it was extremely necessary that at least 10 million acre foot water be released downstream Kotri.
The meeting also expressed concern over hubris of the federal and Punjab governments to go ahead with controversial Kalabagh dam project.
The meeting criticized adamant attitude of Punjab leaders for not deeming viewpoint of Sindh on dams and release of water Kotri downstream.
Mir Murad Ali Talpur, Akhund Ghulam Mohammad Siddiqui, Dr Shahnawaz Shah and Mohammad Khan Narejo attended the meeting.
JEWELLERS: The Hyderabad Saraf and Jewellers group has strongly protested against inefficient working of Hesco and uncalled for attitude of its officials.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, chairman of the Hesco committee, Azhar Shaikh, demanded that all detection bills issued to the business community of Resham Bazaar and Sarafa Bazaar be withdrawn.
He said inefficiency of the Gari Khata sub-division had been reported to higher authorities but no action had so far been taken against alleged malpractices of officials of the sub-division.
Mr Shaikh said if no action was taken in the matter, the Saraf and Jewellers Group would contact other trade organizations and evolve a joint strategy against detection bills.
