KARACHI, Nov 30: Representatives of various organizations forming the Save Coast Action Committee (SCAC) have raised voice against the negative effects being caused by the Left-Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) project.

At a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Thursday, they said the scheme had already forced tens of thousands of fishermen and other people to change their occupations and migrate to other areas and the situation was worsening day-by-day.

“The situation is aggravating further and we fear of another mass migration from Sindh’s coastal areas to other towns and cities,” Mohammad Ali Shah, chairman of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, said.

He said 200,000 people had already migrated to other towns and cities, besides most of the coastal areas of Badin and Thatta districts had suffered huge deforestation.

The SCAC urged the federal government to provide compensations to the affected families of the LBOD, which was financed by the World Bank in Badin district.

The SCAC is a Badin-based alliance of local communities and civil society organizations, which was formed after the destruction of monsoon rain in July 2003. The SCAC was established in order to initiate an organized campaign for the protection of historical rights of coastal belt. However, major focus of its struggle has been against the social and environmental injustices the LBOD rendered to the lives and livelihoods of people living the coastal areas of Badin.

"It is now three years since the disaster occurred in Badin in which more than 30 people died and their families members were still waiting for compensation and justice, which was directly linked to the failure of drainage system constructed under the World Bank funded project LBOD," said Khadim Talpur.

He said the project was initiated in 1984, with the initial coast of Rs 9,202.9 million. The project-induced displacement, poverty and impoverishment was visible in Badin district and had been reported by the several donor agencies, he added.

The SCAC urged the World Bank’s hierarchy to cancel the debt of the LBOD and the entire amount of one billion dollars be spent in Badin for rehabilitation of the affected people and destroyed environment.

"The World Bank and government of Pakistan should immediately compensate the people who lost their family members, crops, houses and other means of living. The government should initiate a programme to create temporary employment opportunities for the people of Badin," Mr Shah said.