KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar on Friday vehemently condemned the proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act and federal government’s plan to construct six more canals fed by the Indus River.

They demanded of the provincial government to play its role at every forum of the federation to stop such plans and projects.

Organised by the Sindh United Thinkers Forum, the seminar titled “Survival of Indus River: Threats and Challenges” was held at the Pakistan American Cultural Centre and attended by several writers, intellectuals, lawyers and civil rights campaigners.

They urged the provincial government to take up the issue with the federal government so that the water share of the province was not taken by Punjab.

Observing that Sindh was already not getting its due share under the Water Accord, the speakers rejected the idea of corporate farming and demanded that the provincial government refrain from giving the province’ lands for any such project in the name of economic reforms and development.

Sindh United Party (SUP) president Syed Zain Shah said that millions of acres had already become barren in the province and one fourth population in Umerkot, Badin and Thatta had been affected due to water shortage.

He condemned the establishment of more canals, including Cholistan Canal, and said that it would be a disaster if the province’s share was taken by any other province. He said the SUP and its allies would fight to the last for the rights of the people of the province.

Naseer Memon said the establishment of Cholistan Canal would not only affect Sindh, but poor farmers in Punjab would also suffer. He said the president of Pakistan was not constitutionally authorised to approve the Cholistan Canal project.

Advocate Shahab Osto said Irsa was established for fair distribution of water among the provinces, but it never implemented any such plan fairly.

He said that under Article 155 of the Constitution, the dispute on water share should be decided by the Council of Common Interest (CCI). He alleged that the land of the province was being distributed among the favourite companies unconstitutionally in the garb of Green Initiative Pakistan.

Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo said that the Cholistan Canal was an extension of Greaer Thal Canal.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024