THE government has stopped providing funds to the water-engineering firm running solar-powered water treatment plants at Thar. A couple of years back the Sindh government-funded water treatment plants were installed at Thar by a private firm. The people and their livestock benefited from the supply. The death rate due to the consumption of clean water dropped significantly while health of mothers and children started improving.

The water is also used for irrigation, as well as is consumed by livestock and milch animals, thus increasing the growth rate of livestock and products like milk and meat.Now they need some 750 new water plants, as 45 plants have gone out of order for lack of maintenance funds. It seems the remaning plants will soon stop working.

It is hoped the contract that ended some eight months ago would be extended. Moreover, the plants have been closed down for lack of payment by the Sindh government of Rs800m toward the operational cost incurred by the firm.

The Tharis are uncertain about their future and have no clue about what to do next. Thar ranks as the lowest in Human Development Indicators compared to other areas in the country. The Tharis demand clean water supply.

Khawaja Amer

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018