THATTA, March 31: The Sindh minister for irrigation Syed Ali Mir Shah has said that the greater Thal canal was being excavated with a capacity of 9,000 cusecs of water which was against the 1991 Water Accord that allowed the excavation to the capacity of 5,900 cusecs of water.

Talking to newsmen during his visit to Haleji Lake, near the site of the Right Bank Outfall Drain, on Saturday, he said that water formula of 1994 was of no validity.

He said that it had been made clear in the water accord of 1991 that at the time of execution of the Thal canal project, a committee would be constituted to decide whether the canal was essential or not.

He alleged that the provincial government of Punjab and Wapda did not bring the parties concerned into confidence and without any consent of Sindh, they initiated the canal project by violating the contents of the accord.

The provincial minister said that the Sindh government had filed its objections with the chief executive secretariat in this regard.

He disclosed that the Sindh government had moved the federal government for the release of ten MAF (million acre feet) water below Kotri to protect the ecology of Indus Delta and save Thatta and Badin districts from salinity and water logging.

Speaking on the occasion, the secretary for irrigation, Mir Mohammad Parhiyar, said that 22,000 cusecs of water supply had been recorded at the Guddu Barrage which he said was higher than the last year’s supply in these days.

He ensured supply of water to Sujawal sub-division till April 30.

TALUKA NAZIM: On receipt of a complaint about making hostage for over two hour and abusing taluka Shah Bunder Nazim Hafiz-ur-Rehman Memon by the coast guard personnel on Thursday night, Brig Syed Ali Mohsin Shah visited the site of the incident, the check post of the coast guards in outskirt of Chuhar Jamali, on Saturday evening.