THATTA, June 23: The primary productivity of Pakistan’s oceanic waters due to perennial flow of the Indus water into the Arabian Sea has periodically been declined following the construction of dams and barrages on the Indus and its tributaries.

This was revealed by Mohammed Tahir Qureshi, programme director, IUCN, while addressing a seminar on “the aftermath of non-release of water downstream in the Indus”.

The others who addressed the occasion, organized by the Strengthening Participatory Organization, included Hussain Bux Thebo, a central leader of the Sindh National Council, Mohammed Ali Shah, chairman, Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, and Noor Mohammed Bajir, regional director, SPO.

The speakers observed that Pakistan’s territorial waters spread over an area of 200 nautical miles, i.e. 240,000 sq kms, were fast loosing its fertility, and if remedial measures were not taken on a war-footing then all would be lost.

They said that 27 million acre feet water was required to keep alive the downstream ecosystem in the riverine and coastal belt of Sindh.

They observed that the Arabian Sea was gushing back into the main stream of the River Indus upto 54 kms upstream near the Chashma village in Ghorabari and fresh water fisheries had been replaced by the inferior fisheries of sea water.

They said the way the ocean was gushing back through the Indus bed it will struck the Kotri Barrage within ten years.

Criticizing the LBOD and RBOD, the speakers said through these mega-projects, which have proved to be counter-productive, the rulers have minted millions of rupees as commission and kickbacks.

They said so far some 16 lac acres of fertile land had been inundated under sea water and about 40,000 people from Thatta and Badin had migrated to larger cities. Mangrove forests have been reduced to 1,000 million acres from 1,850 million acres.

The speakers contended that historical sites including Maro of the Jat and Chang tribes, Shahr Dero, Shah Sambo, Dathriyoon, and a number of lakes — Kajheri, Chupati, and Gadap among others — had submerged under sea water, and if the situation was left unattended major coastal towns and settlements of Thatta and Badin districts would also submerge soon.

The speakers said owing to the situation catches of Palla fish had reduced from at least 10,000 tons per annum during the 1970s to 400-600 tons per annum in the late 1990s. Similarly, the catch of Bara Mundi had declined from 1000-3000 tons per year during the 1980s to about 200 tons per annum during the 1990s.

The participants of the seminar agreed to take the following measures to improve things:

1) Release 27 million acre feet water downstream for the survival of the ecosystem.

2) Donor agencies and philanthropists from all over the world be invited to help resolve the issue. 3) A comprehensive assessment of losses and survey for remedies be conducted by the state without politicizing the issue.