LARKANA: Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, president of Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh chapter, has termed construction of six canals, including Cholistan Canal, on Indus River as a ‘robbery’ of Sindh’s share in water and a ‘conspiracy’ to render the province’s lands barren.

Khuhro told journalists after chairing a meeting on preparations for the 17th death anniversary of former premier Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on Thursday that the canals project would drive a wedge between provinces.

He said the party would fight Sindh’s case resolutely against the controversial project at all constitutional forums including ECNEC, NEC, CCI and others. Sindh would not accept the canals project at any cost and reject it, he said.

He said that no decision could be made regarding the canals project without Sindh’s consent. People of Sindh would take to the streets if the ‘controversial’ project was bulldozed, he warned.

“We make it clear to the federal government that Sindh will not allow anyone to rob its water. The Council of Common Interests (CCI) is the appropriate constitutional forum to find a solution to ‘water controversy’ but the CCI is yet to meet and no permission has been obtained so far [for the canals project] from any constitutional forum,” he said.

Khuhro demanded the federal government convene CCI’s meeting in the light of Article 154(3) to listen to Sindh’s stance on the project and advised the Punjab government to tap subsoil water and drip irrigation system to irrigate its land. The province would not be permitted to irrigate its lands at the cost of others, he said.

He said the party had serious reservations over the six canals. “We fear Sindh’s share in water will be taken through the flood canals (Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals) for onward release into Cholistan Canal that would, according to him, lead to rendering thousands of acres barren in Sindh.

He said that Sindh was already not getting water in accordance with the 1991 water accord and accused Irsa and the centre of rendering around three million acres of land barren in coastal belt of Thatta and Badin district.

He said that CDWP was not authorised to take a unilateral decision about the Cholistan Canal. Neither any ordinance was issued to make amendments to the Irsa Act nor any law was promulgated for constructing new canals. “It is inappropriate to blame PPP for it,” he said.

He said that Sindh would oppose the canals project tooth and nail like it had done with regard to the construction of Kalabagh Dam.

He said that talks were under way with Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding registration of Madaris and he expected a solution soon would be found out soon.

Earlier, Khuhro said at the meeting that decision had been made to hold a big public gathering to mark the 17th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27th. Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP leaders from all provinces would address the gathering on the day, he said.

He said that thousands of people were expected to turn up at the event to pay homage to their slain leader.

The meeting was attended by MNA Aijaz Jakhrani, divisional president PPP Larkana; MNA Khursheed Junejo, president PPP Larkana district; Agha Siraj Durrani, Aijaz Leghari, chairman of district council and general secretary PPP Larkana district; Khair Mahammad Shaikh, president PPP Larkana city district; presidents, general secretaries and leaders of PPP’s sister organisations.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2024