KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that 2.2 million acres of land in Thatta has been encroached by the sea due to non-implementation of the 1991 Water Accord which calls for release of minimum required 10 MAF water downstream Kotri to help stop the increasing intrusion.

The chief minister expressed these views when a 50-page report/findings of the Senate sub-committee on sea intrusion was submitted to him by Senator Dr Karim Khwaja who called on him here at CM House.

Recalling that he had been continuously pressing the federal government to implement the water accord in letter and spirit, but nobody at the centre was listening to him.

The CM said: “It was the clear report of our Board of Revenue (BoR) that due to acute and constant water shortage downstream Kotri, the sea was intruding and usurping sweet water lands and turning the remaining sweet water along the entire Thatta-Sujawal belt into brackish.” That is why the yield of the lands of Thatta and Sujawal was very low than the lands of other areas of province and this had created poverty in the area, he said.

Mr Shah said he would hold a special meeting with his irrigation team. “Environment Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro has done a considerable study on this subject and he keeps pushing the provincial government on this issue off and on,” he said and added that he would ask him to formulate his suggestions in consultation with other water experts to find out its solution.

He said Irrigation Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had also taken up the issue of full implementation of 1991 Water Accord. “If the federal government decides to release 10 MAF water downstream Kotri, the entire issue of sea intrusion would be resolved.

When water is released downstream Kotri, a natural activity of pushing the sea back by Indus water develops in the shape of delta. Bog holes develop there and it serves as a nursery for Palla fish and fosters various other species,” he said.

The chief minister said that ever since the natural phenomenon had been disturbed by controlling water discharge of water in the River Indus, various issues had developed disturbing marine life within the sea and human life on the land.

He assured Senator Dr Karim Khwaja that he would mobilise the Sindh government teams to stop sea intrusion and also press the federal government to play its due role by taking necessary measures as stated in the water accord.

Earlier, Dr Karim told the chief minister that the Sindh government should urge the prime minister to call a special meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and take up this issue. “This is very serious and must be addressed in the larger interest of poor people of Thatta and Sujawal districts,” he said.

He also said the Senate sub-committee had also suggested construction of a coastal-highway from the nearby area of Sir Creek of Thatta to Karachi to stop sea encroaching further. The proposed highway would serve as a retaining wall against sea intrusion.

LOAD-SHEDDING: Taking notice of prolonged load shedding, the chief minister in a statement said ever since the mercury had started rising up, the ministry of water and power had started prolonged load-shedding of over 12 hours a day in the entire province, particularly in the upper and central parts of the province.

He asked the federal government to minimise load-shedding at least during the ongoing sweltering weather. “This scorching sun would snatch the life of poor people in the rural areas if you (the ministry) resort to continue the policy of prolonged load-shedding, particularly during the peak hours from 1pm to 5pm,” he said.

He said the people from rural areas mostly complained against the prolonged load-shedding.The chief minister said he had confirmed reports that the Hesco and Sesco authorities deliberately did not replace the transformers of the areas where they were burnt.

This was an inhuman attitude on the part of the people at the helm of affairs and urged the federal government to have mercy on the poor people of Sindh at least during the ongoing hot weather.

SEEKS REPORT: Expressing profound grief on the death of five labourers in a factory of Korangi Industrial area, the chief minister directed the labour secretary to submit a detailed report within three days with recommendation of action against the factory management.

He asked how the labourers were working on holiday (Sunday), what kind of work they were engaged for, if they were covered under social security or not and what safety measure the factory management had taken to protect life of the workers working there.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016