KARACHI, Oct 17: Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro said on Tuesday that his party had submitted a resolution with the provincial assembly, calling upon the Sindh government to demand from the federal government compensation for the losses suffered by the province due to short supply of water over the past several years.
Nisar Khuhro said through this resolution the assembly would be vindicating the grievances and aspirations of the people of Sindh.
The resolution has tried to bring on record that due to various violations, loss of 2.2 million acres of high priced agricultural land in Thatta and Badin district has occurred owing to intrusion of sea, caused by withholding of below kotri escapages agreed and allowed under clause 7 of the Accord (water).
The demand in the draft resolution has been made in line with the award of Rs110 billion (with 10 per cent interest) to the NWFP as arrears of hydro-electric generation profits by the tribunal appointed for the purpose.
Mr Khuhro said the opposition wanted the provincial assembly to resolve that just as withholding of hydro-electric profits of the NWFP was a clear violation of the constitution, the change of the procedure and formula for sharing water shortages specified under clause 4 (b) of the Inter-Provincial Water Accord 1991 was also a violation.
Similarly, the operation of reservoirs with priority to power generation instead of irrigation needs in violation of clause 14(c) of the accord, the withholding of 10MAF water per year water supplies as escapage below Kotri under clause 7 of the Accord were also open violation of the accord.
The reversal of average 10 per cent annual growth in the agriculture of Sindh due to short supply of irrigation caused by the change in procedure and principle laid out in clause 14(b) of the accord.
The excess generation of hydro-electric power and excess profits carried thereupon, by keeping the reservoir levels artificially high and not releasing water supplies when needed for irrigation by Sindh under clause 14(c) of the accord.
