THATTA, Oct 17: The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has decided to launch a vigorous campaign to save the Indus Delta with the active support of the people living in the tail-end of the Indus River.

Addressing a large gathering of fishermen and a number of people settled in the Indus Delta at the Thatta Press Club on Sunday, the chairman of the Fisherfolk Forum, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, rejected the study conducted by the provincial and federal governments to determine quantum of water discharges downstream Kotri barrage for rehabilitation of the Indus Delta and the ecosystem of the tail-end of the Indus River.

On the occasion, almost all clans of the fishermen settled in those deltaic area of Thatta district, where shortage of river water has destroyed the livelihood of the people and the natural environment of the area has been badly affected, made forceful presentations.

A huge crowd of fishermen called it “Kath” (consensus making meeting) in their indigenous terminology.

The popular participation of the people called “Kath” of Indus Delta, which also included multi-class people of the community including landlords, chiefs of various clans and beradaris, social activists, politicians, writers, intellectuals and boatmen finally resolved to forge a Unity of Deltaic Forum (UDF) to launch struggle under the leadership of the PFF for complete rehabilitation of the Indus Delta.

The fishermen explained the destruction of their livelihood with stoppage of fresh river water into the deltaic region.

They also depicted the ravages of the sea intrusion that followed the river water scarcity in the tail-end of the river.

They said the sea had destroyed 2.2 million acres of fertile agricultural lands in the delta whereas many fish species had become extinct with mangroves depleting and masses migrating to urban centres.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Ali Shah announced formation of a larger unity of more than 250 clans of fishermen of the delta to ensure water discharges downstream Kotri barrage for rehabilitation of the Indus Delta.

He said: “We reject all so-called studies conducted under the aegis of provincial and federal authorities for determining quantum of water flow in the downstream Kotri for maintaining ecosystem of the deltaic region of the Indus and demanded a share of 35MAF of water.

He announced to convene a peoples’ parliament of delta at Thatta on November 25, and in December, demonstrations and seminars would be convened in Lahore and Islamabad in connection with the campaign to save the Indus Delta.

He said an international campaign would also be launched to save the tail-end of the Indus River and for that purpose tours of various European countries would be undertaken to mobilize public opinion in the West.

The PFF demanded of the government an adequate compensation for 2.7 million fisheren whose livelihood had been destroyed by stopping river water to flow into Indus delta.

The PFF demanded allotment of alternate agricultural lands to the land owners whose 2.2 million acres of the most fertile lands had been damaged by the intrusion of sea.

It was decided on the occasion that offices of the UDF would be opened at Keti Bundar, Kharo Chhan, Shah Bundar, Jati, Atharki, Ghorabari, Baghan, Jooho and other areas.

A technical committee was also formed comprising, Anwar Pirzado, Nazeer Memon, Zulfiqar Halepoto, Maryam Majeedi, Zulfiqar Shah and Mohammad Ali Manjhi. The committee will assist the UDF in various academic and other matters.