ISLAMABAD: As the amount of annual rainfall in Sindh’s Jacobabad district is now exceeding beyond the capacity in the wake of climate change phenomenon, the district administration has urged Unesco to engage its consultants in carrying out a study for launching storm water drainage schemes to save the livelihood of the people and infrastructure.

Jacobabad is now a climate-compromised area as it was the hottest place in the world in 2022 with 52.1 degrees centigrade, and currently 11 per cent of the district is now considered as permanent log area comprising 42,000 acres of land. The 2022 floods damaged paddy fields spreading over 192,000 acres of agricultural land.

Referring to Unesco’s international hydrological programme while talking to a group of journalists from Islamabad, Jacobabad Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Yousuf Shaikh said the UN agency could deploy consultants to study waterways in the district.

“Jacobabad needs a strong water scheme, otherwise the district would face same problem in the coming monsoon seasons, whether mild or severe. There exist no special arteries which could easily evacuate storm water from villages and union councils to the main canal,” he said.

The deputy commissioner said the issue has been raised with the prime minister and Sindh chief minister in written as all stakeholders have common voice on the matter and have demanded the establishment of SCARP (Salinity Control and Reclamation Project) in Jacobabad, as done in Kandhkot, Shikarpur and Larkana where the federal government-led SCARPs have been completed with the assistance of the ADB and World Bank.

Pointing out that the water-logged area is of permanent nature even when there is no storm water, Yousuf Shaikh said the FAO could help the district administration develop fishing culture and hydroponic facilities in the water-logged areas that can create livelihood opportunities for the people there. He said he has already requested the provincial agricultural department to carry out a study to utilise the water-logged areas for the permanent benefit of the people.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022