KARACHI, Feb 28: The Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday opposing construction of the Greater Thal Canal.

The resolution was jointly moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Nisar Khuhro, and senior minister Syed Sardar Ahmad.

The assembly has recommended to the Sindh government to “make a complaint to the CCI (Council of Common Interest) under Article 155(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan against the construction of the Greater Thal Canal,” and to request the federal government to stop the construction of the canal “as the province of Sindh has legitimate grievances which need to be redressed.”

Mr Khuhro expressed satisfaction over the unanimous adoption of the resolution and hoped that the government would respect the aspirations of the people of Sindh.

He said the opposition had accepted a mutually agreed formulation so that the government was in a position to take a firm stand on the issue when it was taken up at the federal level.

The joint resolution was preceded by attempts by the opposition and later by the government side to table their resolutions separately. But, with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah’s indulgence, both sides agreed to table a joint resolution.

Article 155 mentioned in the resolution pertains to complaints with regard to interference in water supplies. According to the article “if the interests of a province, the Federal Capital or the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or any of the inhabitants thereof, in water from any natural source of supply have been or likely to be affected prejudicially by — (a) any executive act or legislation taken or passed or proposed to be taken or passed, or (b) failure of any authority to exercise any of its authority to exercise any of its powers with respect to the use and distribution or control of water from that source, — the federal government or the provincial government concerned may make a complaint in writing to the council.”

During two days of heated debate on the issue, it was contended that even in the controversial 1991 water accord the participants had maintained that there was no allocation for the Thal canal project.

The thrust of the discussion was that Sindh’s share of the Indus water system was being illegally and unilaterally diverted for the benefit of Punjab and many projects had been instituted despite the non-availability of water for Sindh.

The members’ contention was that when there was not enough water to cater to the needs of the lower riparians, how water could be provided for the project area. They said that it was being done by denying Sindh its due share.

Some members had even expressed surprise that the Wapda was continuing work on the Thal project, day and night, despite reservations expressed by Sindh.

The legislators pointed out that the project was being constructed without the approval of the CCI. If the project was completed, it would turn a vast area of Sindh into a desert and endanger the lives of millions of people who would be deprived of their means of livelihood, they contended.