THATTA, Aug 21: The people of Thatta have demanded a survey be carried out by experts before embarking on a Rs9.25 billion project for constructing a 149-mile embankment along the Thatta and Badin coastline to prevent sea intrusion.

Reliable sources told this correspondent that a provincial development works meeting, chaired by the additional chief secretary (development), held on July 6 had already endorsed the concept clearance paper moved by the provincial ministry of irrigation and power.

The principal secretary to the governor also suggested a detailed study on the subject.

Earlier, the country director of the World Bank, John W Wahl, the country manager of the IMF, the representatives of the Asian Development Bank and some international donor agencies from the UK, Australia, and Malaysia with two provincial ministers had visited the Thatta and Badin coastal belts, and furnished their reports.

As per its findings, at least 1.2 million acres of agricultural land, in 86 dehs, had been submerged by the sea, which affected nine Talukas of both the districts within two decades.

The onslaught of sea water has penetrated 34kms into the Kotri Barrage command area, damaging 47 channels.

The intrusion has reduced the mangrove forests from 1,850 to 1,000 million square meters, besides rendering tremendous losses to the forest of Thatta District which spreads over 1.2 million acres on both sides of the River Indus.

Sources revealed that the project was estimated to be completed within five years, i.e. from July 2002 to June 2007, and its huge cost was to be shared by the international donors and the government.

Meanwhile, leaders including the former MPAs from the coastal constituencies, Mohammad Ali Malkani and Ghulam Qadir Malkani, appreciated the efforts of the government. They stressed the need for carrying out a comprehensive study regarding the project so that it might not prove counter-productive for the area.

Giving the example of Holland, they said, to counter a similar threat by the sea in 1953, the Dutch, after conducting a highly technical study, erected a 3,200-metre-long barrier. They ensured that the ecosystem, the environment, and the livelihood of the people of the area was not harmed in any way.

They opined that the national resources should be used carefully.