HYDERABAD, Jan 3: Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Dr Abdul Qadir Mughal, has said that the entire world has faced the problem of water shortages and waterborne diseases and called upon the authorities to initiate water improvement projects.

He expressed concern over the shortfall in agriculture production, degradation of land and brackish underground water in Sindh and stressed the need for rectifying the situation. He was addressing the newly formed university discussion group on the topic of “shortage of water” on Saturday.

He said that the world population will increase by 100 per cent during the next 40 years and feared that million of people could die of hunger as a result of water shortage At least 70 per cent of the diseases occur due to the consumption of contaminated water, the vice chancellor said.

Agriculture scientist, Ghulam Mohiuddin Channar stressed the need for construction of small dams in Sindh for the storage of water. He said due to acute shortage of water, the agriculture sector of Sindh has received a tremendous setback and added that many areas of the province had been rendered barren.

In order to save the agriculture sector from total destruction, he stressed the need for introducing drip irrigation system and modernising the existing system.

Professor Dr Qazi Suleman Memon said that the shortage of water in Sindh has attained an alarming proportion and it should not be treated as a political issue. He stressed the need for a comprehensive study for the release of water downstream Kotri.

He said due to non-release of water, the coastal areas were being swallowed by the sea. He said even in the 1991 water accord, it has been clearly stated that a study should be conducted about the quantum of water to be released downstream Kotri.

The others who spoke on the occasion, included Professor Dr Ghulam Hyder Jamro, Dr Khalil Lohar, Dr Inayatullah, Dr Altaf Siyal and others.