KARACHI, May 8: Sindh National Front chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has said construction of the greater Thal canal may affect solidarity of the country.

Mumtaz Bhutto, who is in Islamabad, said in a statement released here by his secretary, that more than three and-a-half million acres of land had become barren and the province had suffered more than fifty per cent loss of crops due to the diversion of water to Punjab from the River Indus.

“If Thal canal is built to irrigate 1.5 million acres of land in Punjab, more than twice of that area will become barren in Sindh,” he contended.

Not only water, but its income, land, business, jobs and natural resources have been taken away, leaving Sindh the most backward and under-developed province in Pakistan, he said, and added that people of the province have now their backs against the wall and they can not tolerate any more injustices.

Mumtaz Bhutto said a meeting of the organizing committee would be called on his return from Islamabad and the Sindh Solidarity Council would be set up.

This body would be composed of representatives from all over the province belonging to all walks of life.—PPI