JOHI used to be a lush green and prosperous area, but since 2000 it has been converted into a barren desert. More than 40 per cent of its population has migrated to Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Karachi and other parts of Sindh. This migratory trend continues unabated.

The PPP’s elected representatives and irrigation official have contradictory reasons for water shortage. Despite a ban on paddy crops, powerful upstream landowners harvest bumper rice crops, and their lands have been affected by water logging and salinity due to excessive and intensive irrigation. On the other hand, 100,000 acres of land belonging to mid- and downstream farmers face major water shortage.

Small farmers of downstream have been protesting over this — including sit-ins in Karachi — but all in vain. Recently, there was a protest rally in Johi to show solidarity with farmers. A few days before the rally, irrigation officials and the ruling party MNA became active and released water for a few days. This proves that the system has enough water but is held by the powerful.

Ruling and opposition parties continue to blame each other for stealing water. However, even if big landlords from the opposition are involved in water theft, responsibility squarely falls on elected representatives of the ruling party to stop water theft.

The irrigation minister, the Sindh chief minister and PPP leadership should take notice of this. Civic society organisations should also visit the area for fact finding, as this is not a general water shortage issue but a case of the rights of 200,000 souls usurped by a few well-connected, powerful landlords.

There is still time to avert an impeding humanitarian disaster and check growing poverty, migration and suffering of the majority of the people of Johi, who generally depend on agriculture for their survival.

Gulsher Panhwer
Johi

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2020