THE federal minister for water and power said in the National Assembly on Jan 20 that water was not being released downstream Kotri and, as a result, sea water had affected thousands of acres of land in Thatta and Badin districts.

The reason which he has given is shortage of water. The inept language of the federal minister was so excruciating for the people of Sindh. Is he so naïve that he does not know that life exists below downstream Kotri also where the people only depend upon river water?

It is a clear sign that in case of further shortage, they may stop the river water at Sukkur. I would like to know that in which law it is permitted that if there is shortage of water, districts or a specified province would face it alone and in which constitution it is written to stop the water of any corner of the country.

One should realise that the people who live in those areas will get the resources to run their daily lives.

Badin district is full of natural resources but, according to the survey, it has been declared as one of the poorest districts in the country. Its people can hardly afford two meals a day. They are worried about feeding their shabbily-dressed children. They can't educate their children to make their lives better.

They suffer from various diseases but cannot afford proper treatment for themselves. However, the government seems to have done nothing to improve their lives. In Thatta and Badin districts, when the people wake up in the morning, they are shocked to find sea water flowing below their chorpoys when the tide flows during the night.If nothing is done about the situation on an urgent basis, one day the people might find that sea water is flowing over them.

Another government project which is jeopardising the people of Badin is the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD). Through this canal the waste water of Punjab is drained into the sea. The project has also greatly damaged the land in Sindh through which this canal passes.

The people of Badin are disheartened because the LBOD reverses the flow of rainwater and causes huge devastation in the area. When Badin and Thatta districts were flooded in 2003, the LBOD caused a large number of deaths of both people and animals.

Two major political parties of Pakistan, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) were both in favour of the 1991 accord, then why isn't the government acting upon it? What is stopping it from doing so?

We request the federal government to help the people of Badin and Thatta by releasing water so that it flows downstream Kotri.

ENGR SAJJAD HUSSAIN ANSARI
Chemical Engineering Department, MUET
Jamshoro