HYDERABAD: The Sindh government has agreed to form a committee to determine whether flaws in sill levels in Phuleli Canal are the cause behind a persisting water shortage in Badin district as is being argued by protesting farmers, but ruled out dismantling the structures built under World Bank-funded Water Sector Improvement Project (WISP).

Adviser to Chief Minister on Irrigation Ashfaq Memon agreed in a meeting with growers in Badin on Friday to formation of a committee to look into complaints of protesting growers about flaws in sill levels, which they argued were the major cause of water shortage in the district.

“The committee which will have representation of farmers will take final decision. Consultants will be there to explain everything to farmers. We can’t take a unilateral decision to dismantle the structures,” he said.

Mr Memon, who is also a former irrigation secretary, told Dawn over phone that consultants of WISP had entirely different opinion on sill levels and growers had been asked to put forward names of their trusted leaders who could understand technical aspects of the issue so that a decision could be taken about it.

He ruled out removal of director of Left Bank Area Water Board, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, whom the growers held responsible for water shortage.

Mr Memon disclosed that Akram Wah (lined channel) would be remodelled and a survey was being conducted for desilting of channels across Sindh. A policy would be framed for water distribution at all three barrages and a committee would be formed for equal distribution of water, he said.

The Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida) said in a press release that prevailing water shortage in Badin was caused by inadequate flows in the river and the impact of shortage was being reduced with efficient use of available water, quoting Sida chairman Abdul Basit Soomro.

He said at the meeting with protesting growers that directives had been issued to managing director of Sida about negligent irrigation officials. Growers were using their democratic right to protest against shortage of water.

He vowed if growers’ problems were not resolved then he himself would join their protest. The meeting discussed issues of sill level, water shortage, mismanagement and water theft and except for sill level the two sides had agreed on all other points.

MPA Taj Mohammad Mallah said that water should be provided to command area of Sukkur Barrage that had been shifted to Kotri Barrage. Irrigation officials did not perform their duties and all rules and regulations were enforced on tail-end growers alone, he said.

Mir Ghulam Rasool Talpur of Badin Bachayo Committee said that change in sill level benefited only upper riparian at the expense of tail-end growers.

Mohammad Nawaz Memon, a growers’ leader, said that the little water available in canals was being stolen whereas groundwater had turned brackish, forcing people to migrate to urban areas. Action should be taken against the officers who failed to ensure supply of water to tail-end areas.

Khuda Dino Shah, a leader of Zila Bachayo Committee, said that water flows in Phulelli Canal were a lifeline for Badin district and demanded that Sida director Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur should be removed.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2019