HYDERABAD, July 3: Sindh Abadgar Board working committee, at a meeting here on Saturday, suggested that on the pattern of the Hub Dam, smalls dams should be constructed in the country and the proposal to construct big dams abandoned.

The meeting, presided over by SAB chief Abdul Majid Nizamani, called for a detailed inquiry into water mismanagement, rampant corruption in the irrigation department and frequent breaches in canals in Sindh.

It stressed the need for remodelling the entire irrigation system in the province, including head works, main canals, distributaries, regulators and drains.

While applauding the government's efforts to promote agricultural sector, the meeting proposed that mechanized farming should be encouraged, limit of agricultural loans raised and their mark-up rates brought at par with industrial and export loans.

It also proposed that General Sales Tax on farm inputs should be abolished in accordance with the rest of the world, agricultural subsidy restored and undue profits on fertilizers, pesticides, hybrid seeds and machinery curbed and quality of inputs improved.

The meeting noted that despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan had failed to make any progress in the field during the last 57 years as a result the country was self-sufficient only in rice and was forced to import other agricultural goods

The SAB meeting pointed out that the country had to spent Rs70 billion on the import of wheat, edible oil, pulses and cotton during the current year, and expressed the fear that next year, the import bill could rise to Rs75 billion.

However, the meeting noted with satisfaction that the government was aware of the critical issue and had taken certain steps in the federal budget to encourage the neglected sector.

It demanded that a large share of the agriculture extension department's budget should be spent on research and the ban on import of tractors above 100 horsepower lifted.

Criticizing an acute water shortage and mismanagement in water distribution, it demanded that violation of the 1991 Water Accord should be stopped forthwith, a judicial enquiry ordered into water theft and strict action taken against water thieves.

It pointed out that even senior provincial ministers had conceded on the floor of the Sindh Assembly that 80 per cent water shortage was recorded at the Kotri Barrage and urged the government to take notice of frequent interference in irrigation department affairs.

Criticizing the role and performance of the Water and Power Development Authority, the committee demanded that it should be dissolved and provincial authorities established in its place.